I've been reading a lot of articles this week concerning education and the increasing complexity surrounding the role of teachers. This teacher -feature co-incided with the 85th Aniversary of my old High School. All these occurrences prompted me to think about the teachers I encountered along the course of my particular learning life.
Teacher Feature
My teachers,
-the best ones
Shone the light of learning
Upon our young minds
They unfolded wonder
And shared the power of understanding
They taught me that a platypus
Is also called an ornithorhynchus
They taught that the Amazon River
Is the lungs of the world
They taught me how to dissect frogs
And the role of subject and predicate
They taught me to play the recorder
And how to use long division
They taught me about the water cycle
And how to spell hippopotamus
They taught me the power of verbs
And where the hypotenuse was located
They taught me how to hurdle correctly
And to appreciate Australia’s tyranny of distance
They taught me about Shakespeare
And how to mount a pommel horse
Without a doubt
I am grateful to my teachers
-Except, Mr Ahern
Who taught technical drawing in Form 3
And threw chalk at us
When he thought we weren’t paying attention
He was well practiced
And rarely missed his target
He sneered a lot
His lip corrugated with disdain
I don’t think he wanted to be there.
I don’t think he wanted to be there.
Neither did we...
Alan j Wright
It is once more- Poetry Friday and our host this week is Patricia Franz. In line with the season, Patricia shares two poems that bring a valuable perspective to Christmas wishes
ooooh, what a zinger at the end. Well deserved without a doubt. The subject of teachers/teaching is big in my part of the world where there is a growing number of students with growing needs and fewer and fewer teachers remaining in their positions. There are too many other professions that call to teachers with salaries and working conditions that are tempting right now. I meet teachers who think that becoming a school librarian will be "easier." And, it certainly can be...unless you want to work with kids and see their minds grow. Then, it's good old fashioned relationship building and teaching with all it's challenges. I'm so glad your poem is mostly an ode with just a little zinger for a stinker at the end.
ReplyDeleteAh, the sting in the tail. It was my fly in the ointment, Linda. The reality bite and the balance the poem demanded of me. For all the positive impacts my various teachers had upon me, it is difficult to erase those unsavoury experience. World wide, the issues and pressures confronting teachers have certain universal themes. We are rapidly reaching a critical point. My work continues to centre around supporting educators to teach in a way that honours learner, agency, drives engagement and delivers high levels of authenticity. This is turn drives a greater sense of feeling effective in the classroom.
DeleteAlan, your review of lessons learned made me wonder at the breadth of topics covered by teachers K-12 and reflect thankfully on the many wonderful teachers with which I have experienced the joy of learning. I am also thankful for the teachers who brave this new world and continue to open minds to possibilities.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you all the way, Tracey.
DeleteI do remember the great ones, still after all the years, the learning from them remains, & I remember the zingers, too, Alan, as you have shown with searing detail. I had one orchestra teacher who threw his baton at us! As Linda writes above, the challenges of teachers today in the US are many, sad to say. I hope they can right the waves of dissatisfaction! Thanks for your memories!
ReplyDeleteIt is important for each of us to reflect upon those teachers who made a positive impact, Linda. I got to personally thank my Grade 6 teacher when he came to a school reunion. He was quite elderly by then, but I felt privileged to be able to thank him for his generous contribution to my fortunate life. I also dedicated a book to him. Contemporary education, world wide is facing head winds. Change is essential if we are to attract and maintain bright and committed young teachers.
DeleteThat is a zinger at the end, as Linda M. says. Our typing teacher threw chalk. She was in a state of constant irritation.
ReplyDeleteThey are there, these outliers... Hiding in the shadows of our collective school memories. 'Constant irritation' is such a relatable descriptor.
DeleteThat was me, above! Clearly I have a few more things to learn...
ReplyDeleteOur learning is an ongoing journey, Susan.
DeleteGrr... that Mr. Ahern and his corrugated lip! My Mr. Ahern threw verbal barbs that stung like a box jellyfish. They live long in our memories, don't they -- the good and the ugly. Thank you, Alan.
ReplyDeleteBox jellyfish, such a apt description of how the actions of these few misguided educators stung us, metaphorically and literally.
DeleteI'll tell you what's humbling -- when you learn that you have unintentionally become a student's Mr. Ahren. In a conversation with a former student, I learned that his interpretation of something I did to protect the feelings of another student soured his entire memory of fourth grade with me. Ouch.
ReplyDeleteOh Mary Lee, we who teach, have these humbling moments where we quite unitnetionally brought about emotional concenr to a student. We do in fact control the very climate of the classroom.
DeleteThank you for honoring teachers with your words, Alan. I certainly didn't see that turn coming, but as they say, one bad apple spoils the bunch!
ReplyDeleteNot sure why my comment came up as anonymous
DeleteThe sting in the tail was strategic, Rose. It does not undo all the accumulated good teachers deliver, but it does keep the conversation grounded.
DeleteOh, what a lovely ode to and indictment of teachers. Mostly ode, which most teachers greatly deserve! I love all the specific, magical details! Hypotenuse and platypus probably aren't mentioned in the same poem very often :>)
ReplyDeleteThe poem is a bag of mixed lollies, Laura, no doubt about it. I agree, there are words that would normally not rub shoulders, but here they are socializing in my poem...
DeleteSo many great lines in this poem! Like the Amazon being the lungs of the world. And "His lip corrugated with disdain"
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marcie. Glad you liked the shared recollections garnered from those formative years.
DeleteI'm glad you had many good teachers to balance out Mr. Hearn! I also share your gratitude you feel to those who taught kids about the bigger world.
ReplyDeleteYes, the scales were tipped in the direction of teachers I admired. They taught me word knowledge and world knowledge, and for this I am most grateful.
DeleteThere are teachers who are called to teach, and then there are those others. I remember both kinds. What a surprising way to end this poem.
ReplyDeleteYour summation is so true Margaret. The end needed to be a surprise in order to highlight the very differences you noted, so I am pleased that as a reader you noticed.
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