Dear Teacher,

My son starts school today. It is all going to be strange and new to him for a while and I wish you would treat him gently.

You see, up to now, he has been the central attraction in our home. His mother has always been ready to repair his wounds and I have always been handy to soothe his feelings. But now, things are going to be different. This morning, he is going to walk down the front steps, wave his hands and start out on a great adventure.

It is an adventure that might take him across continents. All adventures that probably include wars, tragedy and sorrow. To live this life will require faith, love and courage.

So dear Teacher, will you please take him by his hand and teach him things he will have to know, teaching him – but gently, if you can. He will have to learn that all men are not just, that all men are not true. But teach him also, that for every scoundrel, there is a hero- that for every crooked politician, there’s a dedicated leader. Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend.

It will take time, teacher, I know, but teach him if you can that 10 paise earned is of far more value than a rupee found- teach him to learn how to gracefully lose – and enjoy winning – when he does win.

Teach him if you can the wonders of books, but also give time to ponder the extreme mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hill.

Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him that his ideas are wrong. Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is doing it.

Teach him to listen to everyone, but teach him also to filter all that he hears on a screen of Truth and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him to sell his talents and brains to the highest bidder but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Let him have the courage to be patient, let him have the patience to be brave.

Teach him to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind. Teach him gently, but do not cuddle him because only the test of fire makes fine steel.

This is big order, teacher, but see what you can do. He is such a nice little boy and he is my son.

(Letter of Abraham Lincoln to his son’s School Teacher when he was about to enter School)