Who was the most important teacher for you? What did he or she teach you, and how did he or she do that to make it so memorable? How important do you think teachers are?
I have always felt teachers are underappreciated considering the lifelong impact they can have on young lives.
I know a couple of art teachers I had in college certainly did for me.
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Gael-I was a History teacher for 30 years and I loved the kids and teaching them. When you lit a spark, you could see it in a face, and nothing beats that feeling for me.
I taught teenagers and have great memories. I still keep in touch with many old students, and I’m pleased that several of them are now teachers, how many keep up their interest in History-but mainly, I’m delighted to see the wonderful men and women they’ve become, I’m proud of them.
One of my ‘best’ teachers was a lecturer-I was going to study English at Uni, my second choice was History, but when I was interviewed, I immediately changed my subject. The man was so passionate about his subject, he brought the past alive and really influenced my studies and my teaching.
I still work with kids in local schools and still love enjoy it all!
Mxx
Maize, it’s teachers like you that inspire students and make a real difference in young lives.
The teacher you describe reminds me now of one I had who taught art history. His passion for the subject brought a whole new world alive for me and to this day I retain an interest and love of art.
Has to be my English teacher………..beside teaching the basics she brought to life stories that she would read to us in class……….transported us to another time ,place era………….hence my love of reading, writing and using my imagination………
Star, I rest my case. You are living proof of the impact a teacher can have…for life!
I have and always will have a love of history which stems from the teacher I had throughout my senior school years. His way of involving you in the subject enabled me to learn and appreciate the importance of history. We learn lessons from what has gone before. People nowadays just dont understand that. Even though I went on to college to study engineering I still maintained my interest in history. Now in my senior years history is still a passion which I with my late wife Carole I believe this was an area which kept us together for such a long time. So I can safely say this teacher had a major influence on my life and who I am.
How wonderful that such a gifted and committed teacher entered your life Pat and left you with a lifelong interest and enjoyment of the subject he taught; history.
I loved history, just because I did and never had a teacher who was passionate about it. I had a high school English teacher that was perfect for me and perfect as a teacher. I loved grammar and literature even more than I had and I still do. Unfortunately, I never had a teacher that really touched my life or took a personal interest, even though I was a very good student and studied widely and have advanced degrees. My father gave me the love of reading and education and I always had an insatiable curiosity.
Gael, thank you. You come up with the best ideas. I really had to figure some things out with this question.
YW Rose and no question would go anywhere without responses. So thank you for taking time to reply!
At least in your case you had a parent who instilled in you a love of learning.
Mrs. Ernestine Carson, my high school government teacher had to be the most instrumental educator in my life. I will never forget how much she helped me.
Definitely my English teacher, I always liked the stories we got to read, the dictation, and all aspects of English. I was never really into History…Just me I suppose I found it boring…but now I have all the books ect. On the history of my home town. So there you go.
Pam, that you remember her name and influence all these years later is a testament to her as a teacher who positively impacted your young life.
For me there are two.
First, My English teacher all through secondary school. He not only got me into literature, he managed to get a bunch of rowdy, intolerant, uninterested inner city kids to enjoy the classics. He also managed to make the entire bunch work together in the wilds of Scotland.
The second is a gillie. he taught me to listen. to hear what was there and, often more important, what wasn’t.
Both changed my direction in life. In different ways, but they were both pointing me in the same direction.
I am grateful for knowing them both.
Way, you were blessed to have these wonderful teachers in your life and isn’t it inspiring how a good teacher can give us such gifts!
Gael, Gael Gael,
you always turn up here with head breaking questions and this one makes my day.
You want me to name you on teacher? Ok, I give you three.
1. mP
2. mL
3. mF
1. my parents, 2. my life, 3.my faults. All the others you may think of have one
characteristic together; they easy came, they easy went and none of them has
made a step on the final plateau on my memories.
Michael, thank you for thoughtful replies. Any discussion question dies in the water unless someone takes the time and thought to reply
Sounds like parents and life itself have been your greatest teachers and I suspect yours is an ongoing education process.
Well Gael you are absolutely right. Learning means an ongoing story to me.
You see, teachers in school tought me English, German, latin, mathematics, biology a.s.o. At the end they left me alone with all that knowledge. They have never tought me how to make use of the results in life!
My parents tought me demeanor, to speak in a decent anguage, to respect the values and tradition a.s.o.
My faults tought me to be careful of not making the same mistakes twice.
And life tought me to put my brain into gear before using my mouth.
As the consequences of that procedure today I’m meeting many people who must haven’t had parents at all, who have never made faults and life must have layed the predicate ** perfect ** into their cradle.
vonMichael, I love your answer, it is so different it is enlightening. Learning from your faults, is the most needed way to learn and most ignored. I think I was sad that no teacher really touched my life in a personal way, but I still remember every teacher in my early years, and most were good or very good.
My pets have been my greatest teachers. Animals have a power of love that is beyond human understanding.
This is so very true Laurie. But we must be open to them which you obviously have the perception and sensitivity to be.
Well lived in a small town of 2000 and so my Mother knew a lot of my teacher’s. I had her best friend Pearl Conrad for English in High School and also liked English and also liked Pearl. He husband Bill was the high school principal. My first grade teacher Mrs. Coffey who I loved lived in the country and would go out to her house in the summer time. She and her husband moved into Greencastle don’t remember what year and bought a house on Madison St. which was the street I lived on. Then in the 60’s my husband Mother and Step Father bought that house and Mrs. Coffee and her husband bought a house on Washington St. next to my grandmother’s sister Grace Strite. My second grade teacher was Miss Ryder and she lived in an apartment in my Aunt Grace Strite’s house. I never really had a teacher I didn’t like in Elementary school or High School. All my teacher’s are gone ecept maybe for some younger ones that I had in high school but am not sure which ones are still alive today. 🙂
I read the comments and I am reminded that learning needs to go on as long as we live and I learn a lot from people on this site. I really do and I write blogs to share what I know so we all need to teach and to learn. I spent a lot of time in universities, but the people here have been some of my best teachers. I am a retired teacher/guidance counselor, but I don’t know any more than others and I know a whole lot less than many.
You’re absolutely correct, Rose. We should be eternal students for life continues to offer us lessons if we are open to them.
I had two wonderful lady teachers. A high school typing teacher and a college Spanish professor. They were both so “human”. Each of them completely understood every student. I had the wonderful opportunity to work with my high school typing teacher years later. It was in the high school where she taught and I was her student. This time I was a teacher and she was a counselor. She was truly a wonderful human being. The elementary school in that town is now named after her. She was absolutely one of a kind. My Spanish professor in college was also a concert pianist, and a most wonderful and passionate human being. I am so glad they were a part of my life.