International Soros science Education Program

 

To the Participants and Winners of the Soros Olympiads

In Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia

 

It’s my great pleasure to send to all of you and to the organizers of these Olympiads my best wishes.

Your successes and your present and future achievements are of critical importance for the future development of your countries and, I’m sure, for all of mankind. I believe that these new Olympiads in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia will play an important role in the dissemination of scientific knowledge and the nurturing of a new generation of specialists in technology and education.

 

Cordially yours,

 

GEORGE SOROS

Chairman, Soros Foundations

 

IV.

RULES FOR TEACHERS (USA) 1872

1. Teachers each day will fill lamps, clean chimneys.

2. Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the
day’s session.

3. Make your pens carefully. You may whittle nibs to the individual taste
of the pupils.

4. Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes, or
two evenings a week if they go to church regularly.

5. After ten hours in school, the teachers may spend the remaining time
reading the Bible or other good books.

6. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be
dismissed.

7. Every teacher should lay aside front each pay a goodly sum of his
earnings for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not
become a burden on society.

8. Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool or
public halls, or gets shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to
suspect his worth, intention, integrity and honesty.

9. The teacher who performs his labor faithfully and without fault for five
years will be given an increase of twenty-five cents per week in his pay,
providing the Board of Education approves.

 

V. Twas the Night before Christmas Clement Clarke Moore

 

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse,

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

 

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads,

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap...

 

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

 

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

 

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

 

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

 

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

 

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

 

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

 

His eyes — how they twinkled — his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

 

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly

That shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

 

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

 

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

 

He sprang to his sleigh, to his teams gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"