To steal a line from Thomas Paine: “these are the times that try Guide’s souls.”

The early euphoria of the first week is wearing off.  Some students are working hard; others are not.  Some are too noisy.  The studio is messy, getting messier and beginning to have a slight, unidentifiable, yet sour smell.

If only an adult would step in and bring some order.  We need an expert to teach. Eagles  need some direction.

Eagles long for such authority, especially the new ones who keep pestering Guides with questions, even if  reply is always the same: “Sorry, I’m a Guide, I don’t answer questions. I bet you can figure that out yourself.”

Teaching and learning are not the same thing. Barely correlated most days. Learning requires struggle.  And failure.  Even when it’s hard to be patient.

A Guide has four important tasks:

1. Applaud great effort;

2. Hold others accountable for their promises; and

3.  Design challenges that are difficult and fun, including world class examples and the rules of the game.

The fourth task?  That’s the most important one of all.  To transfer the first three tasks to Eagles.  If we step in as experts or answer questions or solve problems, we destroy the chance for Eagles to learn their own lessons.

Today we’re going to call for Champions, Eagles who are willing to step up and assume a leadership role.

Stay tuned.