Inspiration Behind the Site Name

I believe there are gems hidden everywhere in this Earth, secret gold mines and buried treasure. When one is discovered, the word gets out, and we begin to dig there. Sometimes we collect to hoard; sometimes we harvest to make a profit. We drill and steal until we reach the end, leaving nothing behind to fill the void left behind. What if we found these gems and shared the wealth instead of keeping it to ourselves? What if we made deposits just as much as we withdrew? Imagine how different many nations would be right now! (Literally and figuratively speaking)

Now let's talk about one of my favorite poems by the late, great Tupac Shakur. He speaks on a rose that grew from concrete, creating an autobiographical metaphor to discuss how he blossomed in spite of adversity and triumphed in spite of the odds and yet still went unnoticed in the midst of desolation. A light in a dark place. Or at least that's my take on the piece! This can symbolize people, ideas, art, or anything else of value that manages to grow and thrive in places where they are not expected to. 

I believe that we have much to learn about teaching and learning in the United States of America. If you believe we have it figured out, please check our stats and cross reference them with some other leading developed nations. (I'll share more on my findings later) Nevertheless, we have much to offer as well thanks to our wealth in resources and research. I'm ready to go digging for gems. I'm ready to find the roses hiding among the thorns, thistles, and concrete of other nations. I want to look in the places we often dismiss or even disrespect and also the affluent places that we admire. I want to share the wealth through my resource posting and blogging, but also leave deposits wherever I go to barter with educators all over the world. Follow me as I go searching for global concrete roses.