I wrote last week about the proposed senate bill in Ohio that will basically ruin our Ohio school districts (and our police forces, and our fire fighters, and, you know, our communities.). Yesterday, our elected officials took the first (shady and underhanded) step to make the bill a law.
Trip Gabriel wrote an article in the New York Times called “Teachers Wonder, Why the Scorn?” that I think gets to the very crux of this situation. Since when did teaching go from being a noble profession to one devoid of respect and an object of animosity?
Obviously, I am biased in this situation – my husband and many of my relatives are teachers. But I am appalled, and I am saddened by the lack of respect, the lack of appreciation for people who devote their lives to making a difference to children.
We’re seeing so many negative teacher stories in the news right now, and I would love to see some positive ones. So please, would you share a story about a teacher who made a difference to you or your kids in the comments? Thank you.
When I was in the 3rd grade my parents were going thru a NASTY divorce. I mean nasty. I had a teacher named Ms. Atchley. She herself had gone thru a divorce the year before. My parents never let her know what was going on but she could feel that something wasn’t right at home (she told me this many years later.) After my mom came to her and told her the extent of what was going on she became a HUGE mama bear to me. She took care of me. On days that my dad would show up to school in a tangent she would take me home with her. Matter of fact I actually stayed with her for 2 weeks in hiding. My mom knew I was with her just didn’t know where. (With her permission.) This woman really went above and beyond her job. She took her job as my teacher and my protector very seriously. HONESTLY if it wasn’t for her I don’t know what would have happened to me. At that time in my life SHE was the ONLY person that was there for me. SHE was the only one protecting me. I owe her so much. SHE made a different in MY life. And I can never say thank you enough.
My husband is a firefighter and this is a very stressful time for us.
I always wanted to be a teacher growing up (why I never became one, I’ll never know). One of the teachers that had the largest impact on me was my third grade teacher, Ms. Pfersick. I had already been in three different elementary schools by the time I made it to third grade. We moved, yet again, in the middle of my third grade year. I was placed in Ms. Pfersick’s room. I thought she was really pretty and was really cool when I sat by her at lunch almost every day and she ate her melba toast and drank water from her metal thermos. When I arrived at this new school, I was academically behind all of my classmates. She helped to place me with teachers that could help me advance (we changed classes for math back then). Ms. Pfersick also gave me a piece of advice that I carried with my for the rest of my school days; she told me that I could get an A if I really wanted to. She never let me think that I was dumb for being behind everyone else and she was one of the people who started my desire for becoming a teacher. I should have gone into that profession but life took other twists and turns. By the way, I was academically ahead at the end of my third grade year, and for that, Ms. Pfersick, I thank you.
I had a lot of great teachers, but two stand out. One was my 5th grade teacher, Mr. G. He was the first male teacher I ever had. He was pretty young, newlywed, didn’t even have kids of his own yet, but he really cared about us and made learning really fun. A great example to kids of a positive male role model. The other was my high school French teacher, Mrs. R. She was the epitome of graciousness, was always joyful, patient, kind, and encouraging in teaching a difficult subject to many kids who frankly didn’t WANT to learn it. She was a teacher who was in it to win it and someone I still admire very much.
Then of course there are my parents. While neither ever taught me in the classroom, I know that every single student that has gone through their classrooms was extremely fortunate to have had the best.
This is timely – sad, but timely.
One of my most influential teachers was Mr. Perestam. I had him in middle school for English and Social Studies. He was already a seasoned teacher by the time I had him – my parents (although young) had had him when they were in school.
He was the first teacher I’d had that got LOUD. Got EXCITED. We did a unit on The Princess Bride. We played “The Gong Show” to learn the various tenses of verbs. He threw CANDY at us when we got a particularly hard question right. For two periods a day, I was excited to sit in class. He was a great story teller – he made everything connect personally.
He is one of the reasons I decided to focus on English as a degree in college. While I did get certified to teach K-8, I ended up going into educational software development instead. I can’t tell you much about the classes I took to get my degree, honestly. But I can tell you this, every paper I ever wrote (or will write) has a touch of Mr. Perestam in it.
Sadly, last week I learned that not only is my beloved middle school being closed (where three generations of my family went to school), but that Mr. Perestam had passed away after a long illness. The news of the school and our teacher’s passing hit Facebook like wildfire and his fan page (yes, he’s THAT cool) was updated with posts almost every minute with people posting their favorite memories of a wonderful teacher.
It’s educators like Mr. Perestam, who make learning fun and personal, that really stick with kids. I know he’s stuck with me and I’m grateful.
My son was one of those students that teachers either loved or hated. If they hated him, he made sure they hated him with a passion, but if they loved him, they would go above and beyond to make sure he had every opportunity available to him, even though he bucked them all the way. He struggled in school, and instead of asking for help, he was the class clown…this took the attention off of his learning disability. Our goal was for him to graduate. We all knew he was not college bound. Not only did he graduate, but he went to college! He is now a licensed fire fighter/EMT and is looking into the Air Force as a career. If it weren’t for the determination of those teachers, I have no doubt that he would have never graduated, much less gone to college and picked such a noble career.
I have one who always stands out to me as someone who really cared for his students in and out of the classroom. Mr. Osborn… my high school science teacher. I attended a very small private Christian school from 2nd- 12th grade, and I had him all 4 years of high school (not much choice, since we only had 1 science teacher). He was the teacher who set up tutoring sessions after school for free for any student struggling in his classes or just needing some extra help. He also took his lunch hour (the only hour off for teachers at our school) and set up a fasting/ praying time for any student who wanted to participate. He taught me a lot about compassion and really praying…not just pretending to pray. But above all of this, I will forever remember him as the only staff member (of my very small school that I had attended for so long) who took the time out of his day to drive 30 miles out of town in snowy Ohio for my father’s funeral 2 days before Christmas my freshman year of high school. I had never had him for class before August of that year, but he sealed the deal as my favorite teacher for life with that one act. I still tear up thinking about it almost 20 years later. Needless to say, I worked harder for that teacher than any other because he had more than earned my respect, and because I knew that deep down…he really cared.
When I was growing up in the 50’s and 60’s parents were not into praising and worrying about their kids’ self-esteem. As Emily posted recently, the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction in the last few years. However, I think of 3 teachers who made me feel very smart and encouraged my interest in history and government. They were Mr. Coghill in Jr. High and Mr.Schaeffer&Mr. Renner in High School. I needed that self-confidence as I entered into college.
Just one AWESOME teacher!?! I can’t think of one that was NOT awesome in their own way.
MS. Hawkey in 1st grade had her puppet “Paquito” from her trip to mexico that would help us learn.
Mrs Gabbard, I STILL love you “my friend” she was the one that started us thinking about creative learning. We could study in one of the many nooks and crannies she created in her classroom.
Mr Bowman (5th grade, nikki’s dad) was my first male teacher and his teacher aide (what was his name) that left us to join the war in Iraq. WHat a valuable life lesson that was.
Mr Glen Bowman got me EXCITED to learn science.. I can still here him sin-song saying EN-do-plas-Mic Ret-Tic-U-lum.. and OW, Thats MYToe sis!
I can remember always looking forward to Mr Mesinko (sp?, you know Emily, Skeeter) biology class. It was an open discussion about life. He made sure we learned biology but if someone had a question about ANYTHING he took the time to help us learn about it and make it make sense.
I could go on and on and on….
When I was in first grade, my mom passed away. My teacher, who I will NEVER forget, took me under her wing and became a mother figure to me. She let me stay after school and help her, she gave me extra hugs when I needed them, and she was just all-around wonderful. From that point on, I was amazed by teachers. Guess what I devoted my life to? Teaching. Pay it forward. Teaching is a TOUGH profession, but full of SO many rewards. It disheartens me when I hear how ‘easy’ teachers have it.
My husband teaches freshman. He makes so many personal connections with them besides learning about Social Studies. The stories of their troubled young lives is devasting. BUT they make it through the day knowing they can count on “Mr. Wolfe” if they need him. He’s listened to pregnant girls, abused kids, parents in jail, parents prositution/drug life. Now our family is forced to consider him chosing another profession. Its likely that when this bill passes we will be at the poverty level. Their are reports that salaries will be cut 50%. Its just not right! It really makes me think the “powers that be” want to sink the current education system. Who will want to teach with a Master’s degree for $25,000 a year? How will you measure “merit pay” in an inner city school where kids don’t do very well on tests?
I had several teachers who had an impact on my life. Here’s one story…if you haven’t alread read it.
http://www.rednecklatte.com/2010/08/reunion-ready/
Shameless plug!
There were others, Skinny Bobby, Sally Wall, and Mrs. Klopfer, my second grade teacher come to mind.
UP
Dr. Ginger Wilson – American History Freshman year, North Carolina School of Science and Mathmatics. She was ooooold school and believed that every student could learn and would learn, or else. She taught our entire AP seminar on American History from MEMORY (including the DAY OF THE WEEK events happened). She taught my very energetic, but all together scattered brain, how to be systematic and think before I spoke. Basically she taught me academic discipline, which I am eternally grateful for.
There are soooo many teachers that have been my favorite or that have taught me something, not only school related but about myself. Kea Green comes to mind, Mr. Bowman (both 5th grade and 7th grade) Miss Gabbard, Mr. Weaver, Mr. Izor, and my list could go on and on.
As a parent, already at a poverty level, my child is enrolled at Head Start. This bill has an impact on her as well. They are talking about cutting her program all together to the point of I may get a phone call one day this school year to let me know that Josie’s school will be shut down. This program has been a life saver for me! Her teacher’s have been WONDERFUL to not only Josie but MY ENTIRE FAMILY! I can’t imagine trying to get Josie ready for Kindergarten by myself with out the direction of her teachers!
I HATE POLITICS for this very reason. I just don’t understand and I’m thinkin someone hasn’t really thought this process thru very much….
GOOD LUCK and I hope we have a better outcome! Fingers crossed and prayers answered!!!
Mr. Matthews. Need I say more?
4th Grade, Adena Elementary School, Mrs. Hill.
I could write a post devoted to why her influence truly changed the direction of my life. I wasn’t an evil child (at the moment), but I specifically remember sitting in a parent/teacher conference with her and my dad. I made the comment that I wanted to get good grades and be on the honor roll. She simply replied, “You have to work for what you want including your grades, Andrea.” It was literally from that point on that I started to become a straight A student (including the National Honor Society in high school – OH YEAH I went there!!).
She impacted my life in a way that set my path to want to achieve more. And, taught me that to achieve anything, it had to be MY doing. She was also my 4-H advisor. Looking back, she took on these side projects with the older kids because she wanted to be an influence in their live for the better.
Even as I got older and could refer to her by her first name, I never did. Even at my dad’s funeral, I hugged her and said “Thanks for coming, Mrs. Hill.” She thinks I’m crazy for doing this still but it’s out of respect and admiration for her.
Honorable mentions also go to Mrs. Junk, Mrs. Tanner, Mr. Leedy and Mr. Wilson.
No matter what anyone thinks about this bill, I hope people know 110% that our teachers are not only paid to teach our children, but in many situations they are a role model for kids who don’t necessarily have that at home. It’s not on their job description but the teachers that have modeled this with our children because it’s what they feel like they need to do. The teachers care about our kids’ well being AND their education. This is completely priceless. It’s their friggin’ future people!!
6th Grade, Mr. Weeks at Fremont Elementary School, Taylorsville, Utah
I had many wonderful teachers, but the one that stands out forever for me
is Mr. Weeks. Every morning we would single file line it to the cafeteria area
(nothing is set up yet) and start half an hour of aerobics, he had us learning
the cities, states and countries in fun ways that I have remembered til’ today.
I learned so much there and didn’t want to leave his class. I miss his teaching
style when I got to junior high and high school. He was an all round awesome
teacher!