Schoolteachers that Influence

[Ayaka]

I was inspired by Schoolteachers signature,

Teachers don't forget the kids who have been in our classrooms. Once you are our student, you remain our student for the rest of your life (God grant you a long one).

It certainly made me think back and there were a number of schoolteachers I still remember, some for bad reasons and those you should forget but there were one or two who influenced me greatly, changed my life now that I look back.

What about you? Was there a school teacher who influenced you and do you still remember her/his name?

 

[Ayaka]

I have a few who I still remember but the first is Mr Robinson in junior who read the Shakespeare plays to us and made them so exciting that everyone wanted to read a part.

We all looked forward to his class, we would sit in that room at our desks reading our parts and we all loved it.

It was wonderful and I still remember him when I read or see Shakespeare. He took something strange and made it exciting and easy as well as making us feel confident in tackling anything.

 

[LadyDarkFire]

I have two. One is the English teacher I had for both my Junior and Senior english class, and the other is the Mathematics teacher I had for Soph. and Junior year. I remember both of their names, and I still go back and visit them on occasion.

The English teacher (George) taught me the value of the written word, and how to improve my writing. He would accept chapters I had written in my personal works in lieu of short stories for assignments. He actually showed me to respect my knowledge, and accepted my differences. It was the first time an actual adult accepted the fact that I was a practicing student of the tarot. He went so far as to ask me to explain the symbolism of the Tarot cards mentioned in T. S. Eliot's "The Wasteland" to the rest of the class for extra credit. I owe alot to this teacher, and I will probably always remember him.

The Math teacher (Ken) was an incredibly good teacher, who put up with alot of flack from me. He accepted that I Hated Math, and would prefer to spend the time writing and reading. He actually caught me hiding books and reading under my desk several times (it was hard to do, and gave me a crick in my neck, but I was that desperate). He actually taught me the value of math, and got me through Geometetry. I will never be a person who loves math, nor a person who gets the higher maths, but thanks to this teacher, I survived high school math.

 

[Ayaka]

That's a great story, LadyDarkFire

 

[JennyOmanHill]

I never enjoyed school. Mainly because of my shyness, and my uncomfortableness with a group of peers (I am an only child and grew up in a household with 6 other adults). As a result I seem to have "blocked out" a lot of my school-going experiences (seems like a different lifetime ago!).

However two teachers (both nuns) had the biggest influence on me:

My second grade teacher "forced" me to be more outgoing in classes, helped me develop faith in myself and my opinions, and provided me with a good sense of responsibility that I still possess now. I was amazed to find her "reappear" in my life 10 years later as she visited a small group of "her girls" at our graduation from high school.

My high school Spanish teacher, who made my senior year of high school bearable and interesting enough to survive without bailing out totally! Despite being a stern disciplinarian, she was the nun who showed me most clearly that nuns are "women" too!

 

[Ladybird]

Oh yes....

Unfortunately the teacher I have the strongest memory of is a teacher I didn't get on with.

Her name was Sister Margaret Mary.... Maggot Mary to most of her students. She took a particular dislike to me, and gave me two years of hell at a time when I needed understanding and compassion.

What a pity that her vindictivness should outshine all of my 'good' teachers.

 

[mig]

I remember two teachers in particular.

My French/Music teacher.An odious,fat toad of a man.

My Religious Instruction teacher.He had a unique way of teaching
us kids to spell by splitting the word.

The one that I remember even after 50 years is 'friend'. I still say
'fry your end'in my head when I write the word.

 

[Ayaka]

The catholics are everywhere.

I believe everyone has a memory of a teacher and, before you ask, no, I am not or ever want to be a teacher.

 

[sch00lteacher]

Thank you Ayaka, I am very honored.

But I must give the credit for my signature to Cheyenne.

I used that sentence in a post about a former student of mine who was killed in a car accident. Cheyenne suggested it for my signature, I agreed, the rest is history.

I feel so good when I hear people say that there was this one teacher...

It is what we live for. Not the money, what a joke. Not the respect, ha ha ha. Not because we are lazy and don't want a real job, ho ho ho.

But because we have the chance to change / help / guide / save / etc. one student. I will give up my future for the chance to help that one student. I try to help them all of course.

When I am old and ready to enter that final doorway. I would be happy to hear one person say, "You know, Mr. ****** influenced me greatly, and changed my life.

That is what teachers do. It is why we put up with all of the other crap.

Read the thread entitled Geometry should be close by. That is the kind of shit we have to put with quite often.

 

[p_p_man]

We have an advertisement in the UK that runs...

"You never forget your teachers..."

And it's true.

 

[daughter]

I'm terrible at names but not faces

I always loved school. I wasn't a studious child but a curious one. I am gregarious and talkative so I made friends easily. I can remember many teachers.

Ms. Bell was my second grade teacher. A beautiful dark-skin woman like my mother. She was always pleasant. I loved being in her class.

My third grade teacher was an older, white woman(I have tried for years to remember her name) who made social studies the most engaging subject during that time. I loved geography and she would have us color countries on maps and talk to us about children from around the world. I was crazy about her.

My fourth grade teacher, Ms. Clinkscale, was a light-skin woman, young with long hair, dimples and glasses. She taught social studies, too. She was among my favorite. Geography was my thing back then, and I was eager to please Ms. C. I could recite and identify countries across all continents and Africa was my favorite. I'd run into her later as an adult. Even ran into her at church where we were both members.

High school was like a pendulum swinging from one extreme to the other. While I did well academically, emotionally I was barely holding on. I credit two people for seeing me through. One was my coach, Mr. Glenn. God, I loved that man. Ran four years for him. I was only an average athlete but committed. He knew running was an outlet I desperately needed. I earned my letterman for track, cross country(my strength) and shot put.

My Latin teacher, Mrs. Yelda was my idol. An older white woman who travelled to Paris every year. Was fluent in three languages. She was a rebel. Catholic girl from the east married a foreigner from the Middle East in the 70s and taught Latin of all things. She brought me a Monet print on one of her trips. Latin wasn't boring in her class. Once, I translated a work by P. Dunbar and had a friend write it in calligraphy on a scroll. Another time, I did a Roman cook show and served Pompei bread that I actually baked.

Ms. Yelda told me to think twice about attending a major university where I had been accepted. She said why should I give my money to an institution that really didn't care about minorities and women. I agreed. She said they treated students like herds, shuffling them through and charged enormous fees for us to be taught by TA's in auditoriums. I was spoiled by pre-college courses where we were small in size and given plenty of attention. I opted for a small liberal college with a noted program I wanted. They gave me a partial academic scholarship. Never regretted the choice. One of my best academic experiences was attending that school.

I visited my coach and teacher many years after graduating.

In college, Mr. Klein gave me a crushing lesson in humility. He had drawn so many red marks on my English assignment, I couldn't read my own writing. When I asked how he could mutilate my masterpiece, he calmly told me that clearly I could write, but this paper was full of flowery language that said nothing. He said I could do better.

After getting over the trauma, I sucked it up and told myself I could write and I would get better. Finished his class with a B+. Big deal in his class. Thanks to Mr. Klein, I've actually been published.

Well, you asked. LOL

Peace,

daughter

 

[Guest]

There are several teachers who have managed to influence me even during a time when my mind was closed to the outside world. They somehow got through to me and because of them, I am a better person today.

Miss Cook was my kindergarten teacher. She was the sweetest woman I have ever known. Her heart was as big as the sun and her patience could never be matched. She was the perfect kindergarten teacher. Her love for children still remains with me today. I wasn't good at many things, I was the youngest in the class, but I made up for it with my other talents. Those talents were that I was able to button and unbutton the coats of my fellow classmates when they couldn't. My zipper skills were quite amazing, too. lol Even though I couldn't write my name like the other children could and use scissors as well as them, she always found it in her heart to see what I could do. She always praised me for those efforts. That is how I remember her and I've taken on her role inside me. That is how I, too, treat my students and people all through my life. It's very important to me to make others happy in some way just like Miss Cook did with me.

In high school, there were two teachers who impressed me greatly.

Mrs. "A" was my English teacher. She didn't teach strictly by the rules, either. That is what made her class so much fun. No one ever skipped one of her classes. One of our assignments during the year was to write a letter to the editor of a magazine. We practiced our letters and we corrected them as best we could and then they were sent. She even supplied the stamps for the letters. Well, I chose to write my letter to the Editors of MAD Magazine. She didn't flinch when she saw mine, she didn't make me feel bad at all. That was the start of my budding career. I say budding because I don't think writers are ever really done learning their craft. Mrs. "A" allowed me the freedom to choose and then set me free. For that I will be forever grateful. She helped me to enjoy the English language and the words that are flowing each day.

Mrs. "L" was my writing teacher. The year I was in her class my grandfather passed away. It was a horrible time for me as we were very close. It was in her class that I found the courage to write my feelings down onto paper. It was through her that I was able to come to terms with his death. One of her assignments was to write about a poem that included the word Sexton - the type of bird. Well, my grandfather was the Sexton of our church and when I saw that word, it just sent me over the edge. I couldn't write about the bird at all - I wrote about my grandfather and why I was mourning him. She let that paper stand on its own merit and even called me to come see her after class. She never once made me feel bad about not sticking to the subject matter. She understood the pain, accepted it, and let me get it out of my system. This is how I began to let my inner feelings escape onto paper so as to release them from inside.

Have a wonderful day,
Enchanted

 

[Andreina]

i have had 2 teachers who were "teachers" but shouldnt have been. they put me through hell and back and today I still think back with them and think: you bastards.

But then there were teachers, most of them in the school i attended from 14 - 18, who supported me and all my other classmates greatly. Especially my Maths teacher (to make this clear: I S U C K at Maths and he still supported me and encouraged me to take my finals. Also my German teacher in the school i attended from 10 - 14, she was amazing.
She and my English teacher were the only ones (apart from my family, of course) that saved me from being sent to a school for pupils with learning difficulties since my other teachers at that time thought I was incredibly stupid. My 2 teachers encouraged me to take an IQ test and ... ooops... it turned out that i wasnt stupid but just smart and therefore overly bored in class.

I can't wait to send a copy of my University Degree in May to the teachers who should be sent to the Court of Human Justice.


Teachers should support their pupils, especially in the formative period of their lives. They should encourage them, they should help them find their strengths and advise them how to deal with their weaknesses.

I admire teachers, like my Maths teacher in the 14 - 18 school, who I owe greatly to.

 

[Andreina]

P.S.: of course I still remember their names... I became friends with some of them, we send us e-mails regularly and meet up for coffee when I'm back home.

 

[MissTaken]

There were so many. As a child from a "broken home" in the 70's, I had many obstacles to overcome, including the stigma attached to me which indicated I would be an underachiever etc.

Some teachers were very special to me, all teachers got my attention. Yes! I can remember them all!

Mrs H: Grade three with the bee hive hair do and the ruler she slammed on the desk when ired. She was notoriously known as the meanest third grade teacher. What she was was clear in her expectations and a motivator. I learned alot from her with regard to self esteem as she made special arrangements for me to be permitted to do accelerated work.

MrsT: My music teacher for ten years. She insisted that I produce what I could even when I didn't feel that I could do it. In my HS yearbook, she wrote, "You're special. Never sell yourself short." Sometimes I think back and realize that I may have done so, but know that she always looked towards my happiness. If I am happy I haven't sold myself short. Together, we faced many personal challenges together. My respect for her gained momentum when her husband left her to marry my slut aunt....and yet, Mrs. T was still there for me.

Dan: My french teacher. He became a friend of the family as well. He was younger and handsome and taught me many things.

Mr P and Mr L: 11th and 12th grade. They taught me to think, think and think harder. Superficial thought would get me nowhere and my opinion counted when well thought out.

School was my family in many respects. Hat's off to teachers!

 

[Guest]

LittleDevilWithAHalo quoted:

Teachers should support their pupils, especially in the formative period of their lives. They should encourage them, they should help them find their strengths and advise them how to deal with their weaknesses.

Yes, they most certainly should. But, there are those teachers who have forgotten how to do that. I'm sorry for them because, not only do they make the lives of the children unhappy, it means they are an unhappy lot, too.

 

[Andreina]

LittleDevilWithAHalo quoted:




Yes, they most certainly should. But, there are those teachers who have forgotten how to do that. I'm sorry for them because, not only do they make the lives of the children unhappy, it means they are an unhappy lot, too.

Oh definately yes, my cousin's English teacher let quite a few pupils fail... all of them male. My cousin wasn't even sad about it because when he had to chance to re-do his tests in September infront of a commission he passed easily. As it turned out later she was such a frustrated bitch because her own 17 year old son was being a pain in the ass for her since she got divorced.

I dont know about the two teachers I had, I only know that the measures they applied were utterly wrong. One girl in our clas tried to commit suicide at the age of 13 because she couldn't cope with the psycho-terror they inflicted upon us anymore.

Teachers should become teachers because they want to teach, not because of other things like holidays or else. It is a job with a huge responsibility and can change a persons life.

 

[sch00lteacher]

Burn out.

Teachers suffer from job burn out in inordinate numbers. Every year districts must scramble to fill vacant jobs. Nobody want them.

Sometimes they don't quit. Or they are talked into staying (the burnt out ones). They have given up. They are just going throuhg the motions. It is sad. One or two bad teachers can ruin it for everyone.

And it isn't just the burn outs. North Carolina has hired a whole lotta people who have no idea of how to teach. They are not teachers, but people with a BA in something that can fill a hole. They are given emergency licenses. They are required to take teaching courses during their own time. I am not sure how many years they have to earn a teaching certificate.

We also have 'lateral entry' teachers. Again, not trained to teach. They have a BA in the subject they teach, like English. They also must attend teacher courses during their own time, and only have so much time to complete it.

I am a teacher. I went through my undergrad classes with that intention. I also took education as my masters degree. Where a teacher who has no clue gives up, I have two or three things up my sleeve that I can pull out. Because I was taught them, or learned them.

This is turning into a book. Think I'll sneak out now.

 

[Massive Grooves]

I am in school to become a math teacher right now. I have recently changed my major and gone to something that I have really always wanted to do.

I was very good in school growing up, therefore I generally was able to take the advanced classes with the better teachers. If I hadn't had so many good teachers, it may not be a goal of mine to teach. I also had plenty of not so good teachers (I generally tutored for theses classes), that also had a hand in me wanting to teach.

I doubt that I will be nearly influential as many of the teachers that I had, but working with children is enjoyable for me and I figure that as long as I enjoy it, somebody has to reap benefit.

 

[SweetCherry]

I went to a very small high schol so the teachers had multiple duties. The one who had the most influence was Mrs. Paradis. She was my high school english/dreative writing/journalism/theatre teacher, as well as my serior year advisor and the director of the plays the Drama club put out each year. She's the one who encouraged my writing at a critical age and if and when I ever get a book done and published, it'll be dedicated to her.

 

[Wiggles]

My favorite English teacher in High School influenced me the most. He made me feel good about my writing skills, and gave me confidence as a person through praise and criticism.
The year after I graduated he got fired, for dating a student in my grade. He went to jail, and I just have to imagine how it messed up his life with his wife and his child.
After that, I didn't really know what to think. I still remember him as a very good teacher, but I can't remember him as the mentor figure I found him to be in H.S.
It's a damn shame people can't control theirselves.

 

[seXieleXie]

i have always loved school. when i was growing up, school was an escape from a less than pleasant home life. school was a safe and happy place, and it was somewhere that i could succeede. i've said before, my life was made livable by the caring of teachers. i am eternally in debt to all of them, because i can honestly say that i have never had a teacher who didn't care about me and improve my life in some way. a couple stand out in my mind, my 5th grade teacher, my journalism teacher in middle school, my junior english teacher, but they were all great people.

 

[Cheyenne]

Re: Thank you Ayaka, I am very honored.

When I am old and ready to enter that final doorway. I would be happy to hear one person say, "You know, Mr. ****** influenced me greatly, and changed my life.

There's your title, Teach. How about "Life Changer?"

 

[Ayaka]

We still remember their names and think of them. Amazing.

 

[MunchinMark]

Given that I was part of the 'family' at my high school I still see my old teachers around. My uncle is and was a teacher at the school and several of my friends were the sons and daughters of teachers at the school.

The father of one of them was my Geography teacher. Geography wasn't my best subject but he greatly influenced my outlook on life.

His cynical take on international business and politics predicted the Sierra Leone civil war years before it happened. You've got to respect that.