BEHIND EVERY FABULOUS PERSON IS AN OUTSTANDING TEACHER

WHAT IS A TEACHER?
"I’ll tell you: it isn’t someone who teaches something, but someone who inspires the student to give of her best in order to discover
what she already knows.”

When I was in 6th grade, my family moved to Tennessee from Michigan. Although, this was only a distance of 600 miles, it was a huge step back into another world, a major culture shock. This was in the 60's. There was segregation & KKK. There were "rebels" and "yankees". I thought the Civil War ended in 1865, so was surprised to find out it was still alive and in action a hundred years later. Then there was Bobby, Martin, & John. I was also in those formative tween years and there was so much conflict,war, anger, hate, but fortunately also, change going on in the sixties. Change evident in the fashions, music (yeah, the best), and self expression-free love and all.

For a couple of years, my major influence was my favorite teacher--"MR.C". If all of us were privileged to have a teacher like him, the world would be a different place! His love for teaching and children showed in everything he did. I was particularly blessed that "MR. C" always gave us something to take home to think about besides homework. He encouraged individuality and to think for ourselves instead of conforming to narrow minded view of the world around us. He inspired creative expression.

I have been fortunate to re-connect with him in the last couple of years and he still amazes me with his enthusiasm for learning.If the quote "Anyone who keeps learning stays young", then he is keeping his mind young. He is a wealth of information on about any subject you might bring up. Still always smiling and chuckling and sharing funny anecdotes from the past.

Dad and Mrs. Sullivan

My dad always shared the story of a teacher who changed the direction of his life-Mrs. Sullivan. He had often missed school and when he did show up, did poorly. He remembers when the teacher had the children grade each others papers. The little boy grading his paper took it up to the teacher for her opinion. There were so many check marks, he wasn't sure what grade to put on it. When the teacher found out whose paper it was, she said, "oh,that's Bruce's paper. Just put an F on it!" When a new school year rolled around, he arrived at school less than enthusiastic. He had a new teacher, Mrs. Sullivan. She greeted each student at the door. Bruce had on a new blue shirt with a zippered pocket. when introduced,she said, "Bruce, I had your sister and brother and they did so well. I know you are going to do well, too." Then she leaned down and zipped the zipper on his pocket. He knew then, he would not disappoint her. He excelled and would later graduate "magna cum laude" with advanced degrees and spent most of his life inspiring and teaching others.

"The object of education is to prepare the young
to educate themselves throughout their lives.”