Having taught special education thirty six years, I appreciate your relationship with this great influencer. Most of my students were behavior disordered, emotionally disturbed. I run into some of them in our community. They hug me and repeat our classroom rule, “Good gets good and bad gets bad” and proudly state, “I never showed up in the newspaper in the police report.” Teachers want to make a difference. Yours did in a big way. We all reap and bask with grateful hearts in the good things she taught you.
My 22 year old son is in his first year working as a special ed assistant at a high school. He never intended to get into this field, but when his ideal job of coaching the football team didn't provide the full time income he needed, this was where he was asked to apply himself at the school. I have to say it has been a humbling and character building experience for him. I am grateful for educators such as yourself you dedicated your life to this calling.
I read the local paper for years to see which ones made it. Many for great things. But a few for not so good. I love seeing my old students and FB has connected me with MANY of them.
God bless you for writing and sharing about her. I bet she's smiling up in heaven just reading these words. She might not have gotten to do exactly what she wanted and maybe I shouldnt presume, but I'm thinking she did what God planned for her. She gave. She taught. She shared. She gave others the abilities to go make their dreams come true.
John 15:13 To give your life for another.....
She gave and gave and guess what....... she passed it on to YOU.
Some suits with high paying jobs asked a teacher once "what she makes" She replied "I make a difference" I had a teacher in Jr high. He taught us all the ways to make kids strong and healthy and adapt at sports. He was my inspiration. I taught PE for forty years. And also math and reading among other things. I found him almost 30 yrs later. He was retiring from teaching at a college. MTSU. I told him he was the reason I was able to teach the job I loved so much. Thanks again, Sean.
For those who write, there is always that one person who inspires a love of language and how it's expressed. Not always who one would expect. Mine was a high school English teacher, feared by most students, but I admired her. If a teacher can make Shakespeare come alive for addle-brained high school students, that 's a lot!
Boy, we must have had the same teacher! I had one of those who loved Shakespeare and other classics, and we were never bored in his class. He was just excellent.
Sounds like you did her proud! Just think of how many teachers you are touching along the way! I know that the tweed skirted one would be glad to know how she influenced you.
As a retired teacher, I thank you for recognizing what this teacher meant to you. Seeing one of my former students in the grocery store, or getting a message from one on Facebook or receiving a "tell your mother hello" from one of my grown children can make a so-so day suddenly become spectacular! Teachers just may save this country if we stay out of their way.
My wife is a retired teacher, too, Barbara. She sees former students everywhere she goes. What a delight it is to see them smile, laugh, and embrace. Y'all are a special breed.
It will take more than than prayer, Barb. It will take action from people who are paying attention and are aware of the promise of the new admin to dumb us and our kids down; that will make us even easier to fool and rule. That's the modus operandi of this new cabal of cretins.
I fear you are correct, but perhaps our prayers will stir people to take action. I try to be positive but we are certainly going to have to keep a close eye on everything and do what we can. Scary.
Very closely! I feel as though I have a new friend and ally in you. Wow. Another amazing thing that Sean's columns create. Who knows? Maybe others will pay attention now that we are "out there"!
There are many quotes about teachers, and perhaps one of the most famous (and derogatory) is from George Bernard Shaw in 1903 - “those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.”
I like the quote about “One Fine (tweed-skirted) Teacher best - “who could have been great, but chose to make other people greater.”
When I was in junior and high school, I had teachers that were widows. a couple of them lost their husbands in the war, we never asked which one, but we knew they were alone. I remember them all (small school) but there was one that taught accounting and typing. In my typing class I couldn't figure out how in the heck typing was going to help me when I grew up. After a few weeks she asked the class to type what our biggest problem with the class. For some unknown reason I put "looking down at my keyboard" and we all know that looking at the keyboard while typing is a big NO, NO. The next morning, she told me my chair was in the back of the class. When I removed the cover, I noticed the typewriter had blank keys, so looking at the keys would not help at all. She did teach me how to type but accounting was a bigger task.
I was one of the lucky ones. I had a teacher like her in high school. I was smart as a whip, dumbe'n box of rocks. She knew me. Every other teacher except one had given me up. Not her. She was older, married late in life an knew my momma an daddy. She wouldn't quit. I graduated by the skin of my teeth an went on to make something of myself raising a fine family along the way (mostly thanks to my long suffering wife). I kept up with her somewhat because she had become a friend. I thank God for blessing me with her a lot! Dono where I'd be if not for her. Not dumb an happy that's for sure.
Our world is populated by teachers who chose their craft, and anonymity, over fame and fortune. And that makes their gift like a stone in a still pond, ever far reaching.....
I am almost 72. Back in the day, I used to teach freshman college students about mitochondria and chromosomes, but now, I help my daughter- in- law with a second grade art class full of antsy, needing- to- wrestle- little boys. I still love watching them, looking for their strengths. Some things never get old.
I love how Gail called your teacher an "influencer." She surely was in a deep, lasting way. As a lifelong educator, your tribute to this mentor meant a lot to me. Let's all take a moment to remember a teacher we are grateful for, and I mean "teacher" in the broadest sense.
This teacher (me) with many teaching years behind me has heard from some past students, and one of them made a good choice for her future partly because I was her teacher. That's what she told me in a letter sent to me later in life, and it's it's now in my box full l good memories. I wish your tweed-skirted teacher knew about your love of story-telling in the way many of us love to read these stories every day. I just did...read and loved it!
As a retired and tired old ELA teacher with an affinity for writing, I thank you for this glimpse of a teacher who was a hero in her own small way. God bless you and this interesting, little woman who made such an impact on your life.
Having taught special education thirty six years, I appreciate your relationship with this great influencer. Most of my students were behavior disordered, emotionally disturbed. I run into some of them in our community. They hug me and repeat our classroom rule, “Good gets good and bad gets bad” and proudly state, “I never showed up in the newspaper in the police report.” Teachers want to make a difference. Yours did in a big way. We all reap and bask with grateful hearts in the good things she taught you.
My 22 year old son is in his first year working as a special ed assistant at a high school. He never intended to get into this field, but when his ideal job of coaching the football team didn't provide the full time income he needed, this was where he was asked to apply himself at the school. I have to say it has been a humbling and character building experience for him. I am grateful for educators such as yourself you dedicated your life to this calling.
All the best to him. When he rests his weary head at night, may he take comfort in knowing what a great job he’s doing.
I read the local paper for years to see which ones made it. Many for great things. But a few for not so good. I love seeing my old students and FB has connected me with MANY of them.
The pure joy modern technology has brought us, connected in so many ways.
God bless you for writing and sharing about her. I bet she's smiling up in heaven just reading these words. She might not have gotten to do exactly what she wanted and maybe I shouldnt presume, but I'm thinking she did what God planned for her. She gave. She taught. She shared. She gave others the abilities to go make their dreams come true.
John 15:13 To give your life for another.....
She gave and gave and guess what....... she passed it on to YOU.
Sean, greater love hath no other....
Some suits with high paying jobs asked a teacher once "what she makes" She replied "I make a difference" I had a teacher in Jr high. He taught us all the ways to make kids strong and healthy and adapt at sports. He was my inspiration. I taught PE for forty years. And also math and reading among other things. I found him almost 30 yrs later. He was retiring from teaching at a college. MTSU. I told him he was the reason I was able to teach the job I loved so much. Thanks again, Sean.
How wonderful that you found him and told him that he'd made a difference for you. And, of course, all the students you touched along the way.
For those who write, there is always that one person who inspires a love of language and how it's expressed. Not always who one would expect. Mine was a high school English teacher, feared by most students, but I admired her. If a teacher can make Shakespeare come alive for addle-brained high school students, that 's a lot!
Boy, we must have had the same teacher! I had one of those who loved Shakespeare and other classics, and we were never bored in his class. He was just excellent.
One of my two favorites was also my high school English teacher. Sounds like she and yours were "cut from the same mold."
Sounds like you did her proud! Just think of how many teachers you are touching along the way! I know that the tweed skirted one would be glad to know how she influenced you.
As a retired teacher, I thank you for recognizing what this teacher meant to you. Seeing one of my former students in the grocery store, or getting a message from one on Facebook or receiving a "tell your mother hello" from one of my grown children can make a so-so day suddenly become spectacular! Teachers just may save this country if we stay out of their way.
My wife is a retired teacher, too, Barbara. She sees former students everywhere she goes. What a delight it is to see them smile, laugh, and embrace. Y'all are a special breed.
Thank you.
Too late, Barb.
I pray not!!
It will take more than than prayer, Barb. It will take action from people who are paying attention and are aware of the promise of the new admin to dumb us and our kids down; that will make us even easier to fool and rule. That's the modus operandi of this new cabal of cretins.
I fear you are correct, but perhaps our prayers will stir people to take action. I try to be positive but we are certainly going to have to keep a close eye on everything and do what we can. Scary.
YOU are somebody who's been paying attention, Barb.
Very closely! I feel as though I have a new friend and ally in you. Wow. Another amazing thing that Sean's columns create. Who knows? Maybe others will pay attention now that we are "out there"!
God bless you & her & all the good teachers❣️📝
Amen to that Carol. My high school teachers always had time to help us. With teachers and friends helping I made it out of high school.
There are many quotes about teachers, and perhaps one of the most famous (and derogatory) is from George Bernard Shaw in 1903 - “those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.”
I like the quote about “One Fine (tweed-skirted) Teacher best - “who could have been great, but chose to make other people greater.”
I join with you on that outstanding quote!
👍👍 It speaks to the unselfishness of a noble, devoted, and caring teacher - concern more with the needs and wishes of others than with one's own.
Teaching should be a vocation of dedication to the students!
When I was in junior and high school, I had teachers that were widows. a couple of them lost their husbands in the war, we never asked which one, but we knew they were alone. I remember them all (small school) but there was one that taught accounting and typing. In my typing class I couldn't figure out how in the heck typing was going to help me when I grew up. After a few weeks she asked the class to type what our biggest problem with the class. For some unknown reason I put "looking down at my keyboard" and we all know that looking at the keyboard while typing is a big NO, NO. The next morning, she told me my chair was in the back of the class. When I removed the cover, I noticed the typewriter had blank keys, so looking at the keys would not help at all. She did teach me how to type but accounting was a bigger task.
I was one of the lucky ones. I had a teacher like her in high school. I was smart as a whip, dumbe'n box of rocks. She knew me. Every other teacher except one had given me up. Not her. She was older, married late in life an knew my momma an daddy. She wouldn't quit. I graduated by the skin of my teeth an went on to make something of myself raising a fine family along the way (mostly thanks to my long suffering wife). I kept up with her somewhat because she had become a friend. I thank God for blessing me with her a lot! Dono where I'd be if not for her. Not dumb an happy that's for sure.
Our world is populated by teachers who chose their craft, and anonymity, over fame and fortune. And that makes their gift like a stone in a still pond, ever far reaching.....
LOVE your ending quote….
I am almost 72. Back in the day, I used to teach freshman college students about mitochondria and chromosomes, but now, I help my daughter- in- law with a second grade art class full of antsy, needing- to- wrestle- little boys. I still love watching them, looking for their strengths. Some things never get old.
I love English teachers! My son is one!❤️🙏😊
I love how Gail called your teacher an "influencer." She surely was in a deep, lasting way. As a lifelong educator, your tribute to this mentor meant a lot to me. Let's all take a moment to remember a teacher we are grateful for, and I mean "teacher" in the broadest sense.
Grateful for a teacher? My kids have never spent 1 day in a public school.
You will notice I used "teacher" in a broad sense -- anyone who teaches anyone anything and has a positive impact.
That is truly their loss.
I'm SO SORRY for them. 😔
This teacher (me) with many teaching years behind me has heard from some past students, and one of them made a good choice for her future partly because I was her teacher. That's what she told me in a letter sent to me later in life, and it's it's now in my box full l good memories. I wish your tweed-skirted teacher knew about your love of story-telling in the way many of us love to read these stories every day. I just did...read and loved it!
As a retired and tired old ELA teacher with an affinity for writing, I thank you for this glimpse of a teacher who was a hero in her own small way. God bless you and this interesting, little woman who made such an impact on your life.