Thank a Teacher

As the end of the school year approaches, I have been thinking about the teachers I had who really inspired me, who really made a difference in my life by making me interested not just in the subject matter they had to teach, but also in being a better person.

Now, like most of you, I had my share of good and bad teachers.  I had a few teachers who didn't really seem at home in the classroom, or who gave the impression they would rather be anywhere else than standing at a chalkboard trying to force math facts into the heads of mush-brained teenagers.  Luckily, those teachers were few and far between.  Most of my teachers were competent and did a good job imparting their knowledge and getting their students through to the next grade level.

But there were a few teachers who really stood out for excellence, and I want to tell you about them because they never failed to go above and beyond the classroom.

My 11th grade honors English teacher, Mrs. Kingston, was one tough cookie!  She was not one to put up with laziness and if a student wasn't there to learn, he or she might as well just pack up and leave.  Mrs. Kingston could bring a book to life.  She instilled a lifelong love for Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury and a good dose of work ethic on the side.  She taught me to speak clearly and concisely in oral reports (she wouldn't put up with the ubiquitous "you know" in speech), and she was always there to help her students out.  Out of all the teachers I have had, Mrs. Kingston was my favorite.

My 12th grade Humanities teacher, Mrs. Ginn, taught us about the world through slide shows and movies.  In her class we traveled to Greece and Rome and Medieval and Renaissance Europe from our plain metal and wood desks and viewed with awe the achievements of the great cultures of the world and the artists who epitomized them.  From Mrs. Ginn, I gained a love of world history, philosophy, art and culture, an appreciation of man's (and woman's) quest to build great monuments that will last long after they and their civilization are gone.

My high school Science teacher, Mr. Jarman, was a spry little man with a love for his subject matter.  He would get so excited about what he was teaching that he would bounce back and forth across the front of the science lab, arms swinging wildly, and talking so fast that while I couldn't always understand what he was saying, I could tell he loved what he was talking about.  He worked with the math and science clubs and put in many after school hours working with his students.  He was never sick, always enthusiastic, and he loved his students.  Sadly, Mr. Jarman is gone now, but he lives on in the hearts of the many, many people who passed through his classroom through the years.

Great teachers make a difference in the world, because they make a difference for their students.  I honor my great teachers, and thank them for all they did for me and for others.  Without their influence, my life would be much less rich than it is.

Who were your great teachers?  I'd love to learn more about them.  Tell your story in the comments section below!