“The end of elementary school is supposed to feel big. For his 5th-graders, the Moving On Ceremony was a milestone.
But teacher Robert Dunham noticed something: some students didn’t feel ready—shirts untucked, hair uncut, confidence missing.
So the night before, he packed clippers in his bag. Not books. Not papers. Clippers.
The next morning, kids lined up in his classroom. One by one, he gave trims and fresh cuts—turning nerves into smiles. Each came with a quiet reminder:
👉 “You should always be caught doing the right thing, at all times.”
By the time the ceremony began, his students walked taller. Heads high. Pride shining on their faces.
Because sometimes teaching isn’t just lessons.
Sometimes… it’s a haircut.”
[Makeda Naeem]