I am currently reading The Barn – The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi by Wright Thompson. If you have not read the book, I highly recommend it. The book honors both personal heritage and the enduring lessons drawn from the story of Emmett Till that continue to shape the South’s identity and hope. On a personal note, as I mentioned to a friend the other day who is also reading the book, Chapter Two contains the best history of Mississippi that I have ever read or heard, encompassing many aspects of Mississippi history that I never learned in school. Throughout the book, a theme emerges that I keep seeing: “Don’t just tell them not to forget, tell them to remember.” As I reflect on this theme, I see how it highlights how often we tell people, “Don’t forget,” but rarely do we say, “Remember.” What a subtle difference, but a powerful one, especially in education and leadership.

“Don’t forget” is defensive. It’s a warning, a plea against loss. It assumes negligence and expects compliance. “Remember,” on the other hand, is invitational. It calls us to hold something sacred, to intentionally bring forward what matters most. One is about avoiding failure; the other is about preserving meaning. It’s about taking ownership of what we hold dear.

This idea of remembrance isn’t just philosophical, it’s timeless. Even in popular culture, echoes of this truth appear. In the movie 300, King Leonidas commands his soldiers, “Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.” His charge was not merely about memory; it was about meaning. It was a call to anchor courage, sacrifice, and identity in something worth remembering. Later, as the lone survivor, Dilios fulfills his king’s final wish: “Remember us. As simple an order as a king can give. Remember why we died.” These lines capture the essence of remembrance as legacy, holding fast to what gives purpose to the struggle.

Educational leaders face this tension every day. General thoughts consist of… We are reminded not to forget deadlines, lesson plans, or data reporting, but do we invite educators to remember why they teach? We caution students not to forget assignments, but do we spend time helping them remember the joy of discovery, the dignity of effort, the wonder of learning? We are an integral part of this process, and our value lies within the core of how we help others connect their work to purpose. 

To “remember” is to root ourselves in purpose. It is to carry forward the lessons, values, and relationships that shape our work. I believe when we lead from a remembrance mindset, we help others reconnect with the “why” beneath the “what.” We help build and sustain cultures where the vision and mission are not just recited but recalled from personal experience, vividly and often. Remembering becomes intentional. 

This act of remembrance is also deeply rooted in Christian values at its core. Throughout Scripture, God continually calls His people to remember. “Remember the Lord your God” (Deut. 8:18). “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). When we remember God’s faithfulness, we lead differently. We teach with patience, we listen with compassion, and we serve with humility. God knows that what we remember shapes what we value, and what we value directs how we lead.

So today, don’t just tell others not to forget. Tell them to remember. We all have the capability to instill this mindset in others around us. So, why not give it a try? 

So maybe the better question is not “What have we forgotten?” but “What must we remember?”

Remember the teacher who made a difference in your life, Remember the student who just needed one person to believe in them, Remember that education is a calling for you for our future, Remember who others are, Remember the One who called you, And in that remembering, remember to keep the heart of education alive…

As you step into your role today, remember that you are not just an educator and leader but a shaper of the future. Your actions and decisions profoundly impact the lives of those you guide. Go, be the great educator and leader that our future needs.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2025 J Clay Norton

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