During the recent restrictions, my heart went out to those parents trying to balance working from home with some form of home-schooling. But I took my hat off to those teachers who had to move to teaching online without specialist training. Hopefully most children got to experience at least one teacher who’s risen to the current challenge, and I’ve certainly read tales of those who have. It did get me to recalling my own experiences with teachers – for it was a bit mixed …
At one end of the scale, there was my French teacher. A real tartar – she terrorised any who demonstrated signs of being weak or vulnerable. A fellow classmate of mine was struggling – her mother was dying and she had raging eczema which she scratched during lessons. Rather than offer kindness or support, my teacher insisted my classmate stop scratching, until losing her patience when my classmate proved unable to stop – she’d eject my classmate from the classroom. I had a bad habit too – of biting my nails – but had quickly learned to desist in that particular class. Nevertheless, I started it up again, if only in an attempt to divert attention from my classmate, and to keep her company outside the classroom door. I discussed this teacher’s unlovely behaviour with another teacher I liked and respected. Her response? The French teacher didn’t really like pupils until they reached sixth form (ages 16-18), so we just had to ride it out till then. In truth, her behaviour did change when we reached the sixth form – only my classmate had long since been removed from the school by her surviving parent.
What did I learn? That life is unfair, especially when you’re in a place of vulnerability. Not to expect those in authority to be kind or fair. Finally that you should always either stand up for or alongside someone who is being bullied.
At the other extreme was the Spanish teacher from my final year in full time education. Things having gone somewhat array the previous year, I was attempting to complete a two-year course in English Literature in one year. When I expressed my struggles, my Spanish teacher offered to tutor me on a variety of English literature texts during our Spanish language lessons . Yes, you read that correctly – he not only taught me Spanish language and literature, he also coached me in Chaucer, Shakespeare and Wilde, for he considered any subject acceptable so long as they were discussed in Spanish. Without him, there’s not a chance in hell I’d have passed my English examinations and received my qualification. Last but not least, he was erudite, intelligent and funny.
What did I learn? That there are ways and means to accomplish stuff when you’re fortunate in working with someone who’s both flexible and thinks outside the box. That being clever doesn’t prevent you from being seriously cool.
Two teachers at the opposite ends of the spectrum. Both taught me valuable life lessons, but only one is remembered with genuine respect, affection and gratitude.
Is there a teacher who had a real impact on your life – either for the better or the worse?
© Debra Carey, 2020
debsdespatches.com 
My fifth grade teacher turned me off learning. My sixth grade teacher got it back a bit. On the whole, most if my teachers were forgettable
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Debs – wonder if we are thinking of the same French teacher? Mrs Drabble was mine. Who was the male Spanish teacher? I had Mrs Cracknell, poor thing, she couldn’t control our class until she decided to teach us how to swear in Spanish – she had us then!!
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Yes & yes. I’ve learned the same lessons in life. Would that more people learn them, too.
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Hi Sarah, I had Mrs Diar (although I’m not at all sure of that spelling now). Tiny lady, taught both French & German as her husband was German. I remember Mrs Cracknell, but the male Spanish teacher was from the sixth form college I attended for my final year (same one as Ana Foster co-incidentally).
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LA, I’d have said the same, but it was during your series of posts about your daughter’s experience of online lessons that these memories surfaced. I’m a late lover of learning – a nightmare at school, but would go to University full time now if it was a viable option.
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Ally, it was interesting looking back. I initially started with just a bit of a ramble about teachers after reading LA’s series of posts about her daughter’s teachers coping with online teaching during lockdown, but the post stayed in drafts and only worked when I realised the learnings I’d gained.
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Learning is fun
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It is LA – one of my favourite things 😀
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