I've always felt that I would come to look at it as teaching the same old stuff, year after grinding year.

Yes, I suppose that is the stereotype, Jackie.

But, if a teacher has the interest and the dedication to keep up-to-date in his/her field of specialization, there are few professions so exciting or so rewarding, both for the teacher and for the clientele they serve.

A great teacher can be the agent of almost unimaginable, beneficial change.

He or she has only to inspire one fertile mind in a life-time to give birth to an idea which can literally change the world.

Returning to Whitehead's comment on the value of "novelty".

Of course, in the business world, "novelty" = "innovation".

A USA Today "Money" Section "Snapshot" earlier this week [July 13, B1] reports that "innovation" is one of the top 3 priorities of 49% of companies in the USA, 40% in Asia, and 50% in Europe.

In Europe, "innovation" is the top priority of 23% of the companies, 21% in Asia, and 15% in the USA.