The blackboard featured The blackboard featured student work. In most student work. In most respects it appeared to be respects it appeared to be a typically traditional a typically traditional elementary classroom. Yet, elementary classroom. Yet, something seemed something seemed different that day. For the different that day. For the first time. there seemed to first time. there seemed to be an undercurrent of be an undercurrent of excitement.excitement.

All the students All the students were working on a were working on a task, filling a sheet task, filling a sheet of notebook paper of notebook paper with thoughts and with thoughts and ideas. ideas.

A ten-year-old student was A ten-year-old student was filling her page with filling her page with "I can't kick the soccer ball "I can't kick the soccer ball pass second base."pass second base.""I can't do long division "I can't do long division with more than three with more than three numbers."numbers.""I can't get Debbie to like "I can't get Debbie to like me."me."

Her page was half Her page was half full and she full and she showed no signs of showed no signs of letting up. She letting up. She worked on with worked on with determination and determination and persistence.persistence.

Even the teacher was Even the teacher was writing: "I can't get John's writing: "I can't get John's mother to come in for a mother to come in for a teacher conference."teacher conference.""I can't get my daughter "I can't get my daughter to put gas in the car."to put gas in the car.""I can't get Alan to use "I can't get Alan to use words instead of fists."words instead of fists."

Students were then Students were then instructed to fold their instructed to fold their papers in half and bring papers in half and bring them to the front. When them to the front. When students reached the students reached the desk, they placed their I desk, they placed their I cant’s statements into cant’s statements into an empty shoe box.an empty shoe box.

The Teacher put the lid The Teacher put the lid on the box, tucked it on the box, tucked it under her arm and under her arm and headed out the door headed out the door and down the hall. and down the hall. Students followed the Students followed the teacher.teacher.

Shovel in one hand, Shovel in one hand, shoebox in the other, shoebox in the other, Teacher marched the Teacher marched the students out of the students out of the school to the farthest school to the farthest corner of the corner of the playground. There playground. There they began to dig.they began to dig.

They were going to bury They were going to bury their I can’ts. When the their I can’ts. When the hole approached three-hole approached three-foot deep, the digging foot deep, the digging ended. The box of "I ended. The box of "I Cant's" was placed at the Cant's" was placed at the bottom of the hole and bottom of the hole and quickly covered with dirt.quickly covered with dirt.

At this point At this point the Teacher the Teacher announced, announced, "Boys and girls, "Boys and girls, please join please join hands and bow hands and bow your heads." your heads."

The students complied. The students complied. They quickly formed They quickly formed joined hands over the joined hands over the grave, creating a bond grave, creating a bond with their hands. They with their hands. They lowered their heads and lowered their heads and waited. The teacher waited. The teacher delivered the eulogy.delivered the eulogy.

We gather today We gather today to honor the to honor the memory of I Can’t memory of I Can’t . While he was . While he was with us on earth, with us on earth, he touched the he touched the lives of everyone, lives of everyone, some more than some more than others.others.

His name, His name, unfortunately, has unfortunately, has been spoken in every been spoken in every public building - public building - schools, city halls, and schools, city halls, and state capitols and yes, state capitols and yes, even The White House.even The White House.

He is survived by his He is survived by his brothers and sisters, brothers and sisters, "I Can," “I Will" and "I Can," “I Will" and "I'm going to Right "I'm going to Right Away." They are not Away." They are not as well known as their as well known as their famous relative and famous relative and are certainly not as are certainly not as strong and powerful strong and powerful yet.yet.

Perhaps someday, with Perhaps someday, with your help, they will make your help, they will make an even bigger mark on an even bigger mark on the world. May I CAN’T the world. May I CAN’T rest in peace and may rest in peace and may everyone present pick up everyone present pick up their lives and move their lives and move forward in his absence.forward in his absence.

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