A Tale of Two Teachers
How I was formed with stick and carrot15 total reviews
Comment from Father Flaps
Hi Mike,
We had those special classes, too, for the smart kids who were sure to go on to university. I forget what they called them, but it was a long time ago... 55 years to be exact. I hated high school, except for my Math classes. I didn't see the magic in writing until I was in my twenties. I'm sure I should have been a Math and English teacher, but instead spent 39 years working at Moosehead Breweries. My head wasn't screwed on straight! Perhaps it still isn't.
I had some great teachers, though, as well as a few bad ones. Just because someone has gone to "Teacher's College" doesn't mean they can teach. But they all have a hand in shaping you for adulthood, some more than your own parents.
I especially liked your intro,
"How I was formed with stick and carrot". Yeah, they certainly shaped us, one way or another.
Your Government and Politics teacher might have lost his job for tainted words today,
"Okay, I need you all to get your Cox out."
I recall our English teacher in Grade 11. One day, in front of the whole class, he targeted a girl, describing lacey baby doll pajamas, and how she must like to wear them after a trying day at school. I think the whole class was taken back by the comment. I know my jaw dropped. And I felt so bad for her because I knew she had to be embarrassed. We're supposed to respect our teachers, but how could I respect him after that? Yet, it was that same teacher who pushed me toward the joy of writing. He sparked my interest in writing something of my own, out of my own pointed head. Of course, I paid for that one day. After one of his classes where we had to compose a humorous paragraph, he picked three of us to follow him. I had no idea what was going to happen. He marched us down to his next class, Grade 9, and got us to read our paragraphs to them. I was very shy, and Grade 9 was a big class compared to my Grade 11 homeroom. I had three of my old girlfriends in that class, too. I was mortified!
Anyway, enjoyed your piece, Mike.
Cheers,
Kimbob
reply by the author on 02-Sep-2022
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Hi Mike,
We had those special classes, too, for the smart kids who were sure to go on to university. I forget what they called them, but it was a long time ago... 55 years to be exact. I hated high school, except for my Math classes. I didn't see the magic in writing until I was in my twenties. I'm sure I should have been a Math and English teacher, but instead spent 39 years working at Moosehead Breweries. My head wasn't screwed on straight! Perhaps it still isn't.
I had some great teachers, though, as well as a few bad ones. Just because someone has gone to "Teacher's College" doesn't mean they can teach. But they all have a hand in shaping you for adulthood, some more than your own parents.
I especially liked your intro,
"How I was formed with stick and carrot". Yeah, they certainly shaped us, one way or another.
Your Government and Politics teacher might have lost his job for tainted words today,
"Okay, I need you all to get your Cox out."
I recall our English teacher in Grade 11. One day, in front of the whole class, he targeted a girl, describing lacey baby doll pajamas, and how she must like to wear them after a trying day at school. I think the whole class was taken back by the comment. I know my jaw dropped. And I felt so bad for her because I knew she had to be embarrassed. We're supposed to respect our teachers, but how could I respect him after that? Yet, it was that same teacher who pushed me toward the joy of writing. He sparked my interest in writing something of my own, out of my own pointed head. Of course, I paid for that one day. After one of his classes where we had to compose a humorous paragraph, he picked three of us to follow him. I had no idea what was going to happen. He marched us down to his next class, Grade 9, and got us to read our paragraphs to them. I was very shy, and Grade 9 was a big class compared to my Grade 11 homeroom. I had three of my old girlfriends in that class, too. I was mortified!
Anyway, enjoyed your piece, Mike.
Cheers,
Kimbob
Comment Written 28-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 02-Sep-2022
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Lol, thanks Kimbob - I appreciate your digging out an older piece. Really happy you enjoyed it :-)
Mike
Comment from Cindy Warren
I think we've all had some good teachers, and some bad ones. Just because someone knows their stuff doesn't always mean they should be teaching. The one that gave you an F sounds like he didn't want to hear anything but his own point of view parroted back to him.
reply by the author on 22-Jul-2022
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I think we've all had some good teachers, and some bad ones. Just because someone knows their stuff doesn't always mean they should be teaching. The one that gave you an F sounds like he didn't want to hear anything but his own point of view parroted back to him.
Comment Written 21-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 22-Jul-2022
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Exactly that - some people probably shouldn't teach, lol.
Mike :-)
Comment from Judy Lawless
I think you had much better teaching, by both those teachers, about English than I ever did, Mike. I was never inspired to read the classics and classes were focused more on grammar and sentence structure, which makes me a better reviewer/editor than writer. But I've learned a lot since joining FanStory. Thanks for sharing your story. Good luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 20-Jul-2022
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I think you had much better teaching, by both those teachers, about English than I ever did, Mike. I was never inspired to read the classics and classes were focused more on grammar and sentence structure, which makes me a better reviewer/editor than writer. But I've learned a lot since joining FanStory. Thanks for sharing your story. Good luck in the contest.
Comment Written 20-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 20-Jul-2022
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Thank you :-). My issue was the opposite.
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You?re most welcome!
Comment from Bill Schott
Neat tale of the school system and these two instructors with different teaching styles and avenues of approach. I can sense the angry teacher, having to endure students, and the happy teacher, eager to share and expand.
reply by the author on 20-Jul-2022
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Neat tale of the school system and these two instructors with different teaching styles and avenues of approach. I can sense the angry teacher, having to endure students, and the happy teacher, eager to share and expand.
Comment Written 20-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 20-Jul-2022
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Thanks, Bill. Indeed, I wouldn't want to be a teacher most of the time!
Mike
Comment from Michaela Moore
Your picture tickles me pink! I found the fact that you wrote this as a comparison/contrast fascinating because it delves into your memory, letting us, your reader, watch how you are analyzing your year in these two classrooms. Fascinating! And I was intrigued by the fact that the reader must guess which teacher is which, and by the end, your appreciation for what both teachers taught you. And your wit and sarcasm never disappoint.
reply by the author on 20-Jul-2022
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Your picture tickles me pink! I found the fact that you wrote this as a comparison/contrast fascinating because it delves into your memory, letting us, your reader, watch how you are analyzing your year in these two classrooms. Fascinating! And I was intrigued by the fact that the reader must guess which teacher is which, and by the end, your appreciation for what both teachers taught you. And your wit and sarcasm never disappoint.
Comment Written 19-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 20-Jul-2022
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Thank you :-). I have to admit, I wasn't feeling it when I wrote this piece, but the deadline was fast approaching. I often find that, though - I finish something and think it's boring or lacking character. This affliction seems common to the vast majority of writers, of course. There were some very strong entries for this contest so I have no expectation of placing in it, but I was pleased to be part of the pack.
Mike
Comment from GARY MACLEAN
Sounds like a fun teacher (Cox). Pretty strict though, awarding an "F" for a simple comment?
Just a couple of suggestions:
Para 2, 2nd sentence (text books) should be (textbooks)
Para 6, 7th sentence: Remove comma after (margin)
I do look forward to your Bogs series. I would like to see what it is all about.
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2022
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Sounds like a fun teacher (Cox). Pretty strict though, awarding an "F" for a simple comment?
Just a couple of suggestions:
Para 2, 2nd sentence (text books) should be (textbooks)
Para 6, 7th sentence: Remove comma after (margin)
I do look forward to your Bogs series. I would like to see what it is all about.
Comment Written 18-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2022
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Thanks Gary - your eagle eye is greatly appreciated :-).
Mike
Comment from Gypsy Blue Rose
Excellent entry for the Teaching Affected Me contest.
I'm a teacher. It's the best job ever. Good luck in the contest.
Interesting essay about your experience with teahers and school. I hated history. I grew up in Spain. We had similar problems. But you turned out to have excellent writing skills.
Gypsy
"The poet waits quietly to paint the unsaid." -Atticus
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2022
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Excellent entry for the Teaching Affected Me contest.
I'm a teacher. It's the best job ever. Good luck in the contest.
Interesting essay about your experience with teahers and school. I hated history. I grew up in Spain. We had similar problems. But you turned out to have excellent writing skills.
Gypsy
"The poet waits quietly to paint the unsaid." -Atticus
Comment Written 18-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2022
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Thank you, Gypsy :-). I love imparting knowledge - it's part of my role at work to unskilled my colleagues' IT skills, and I (usually) enjoy finding the best way to explain things for each person.
Mike
Comment from Verna Cole Mitchell
I enjoyed your wanderings down Memory Lane. The college English teacher who most affected me was the first woman to get her doctorate from Chicago University. She was old when she taught me-just like I'm old now. In one class our textbook editor's last name was Heiney. At the beginning of each class, she said, "Please put your Heineys on your desk. Most of my fellow students thought she was clueless-but I didn't.
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2022
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I enjoyed your wanderings down Memory Lane. The college English teacher who most affected me was the first woman to get her doctorate from Chicago University. She was old when she taught me-just like I'm old now. In one class our textbook editor's last name was Heiney. At the beginning of each class, she said, "Please put your Heineys on your desk. Most of my fellow students thought she was clueless-but I didn't.
Comment Written 18-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2022
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Lol, it sounds as though she had a cheeky streak :-). Thanks so much for your response!
Mike
Comment from karenina
Nothing irks me more than a professor insisting my interpretation of a poem is wrong. How pompous! I would have had a real issue with your Seamus Heany instructor.
One of my favorite professors had us write an original adaptation to Hamlet, Act I, scene three... Yes. All of it.
I've just come from reading "Strange Fruit" by Heany. Not a bog poem...but please hand me my Prozac!
Of course both teachers affected you...
One shut you down...
The other dared you to soar!
Karenina
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2022
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Nothing irks me more than a professor insisting my interpretation of a poem is wrong. How pompous! I would have had a real issue with your Seamus Heany instructor.
One of my favorite professors had us write an original adaptation to Hamlet, Act I, scene three... Yes. All of it.
I've just come from reading "Strange Fruit" by Heany. Not a bog poem...but please hand me my Prozac!
Of course both teachers affected you...
One shut you down...
The other dared you to soar!
Karenina
Comment Written 18-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2022
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Thank you :-). To this day, I can't bear Seamus Heaney - and I've no idea whether that's genuine dislike or just a bad association. The Hamlet assignment sounds great. My favourite ever essay was a 'modern MacBeth' assignment. I handed in the first 3000 words at the deadline because I'd run out of time. Then, when my teacher handed it back with a B+ and a comment that it didn't seem finished, I gave her the other 5000 words. Our standard essay length was 1000 words but I'm not sure how anybody can condense the plot of MacBeth that far and re-interpret it at the same time. Anyway, that essay became Onekka - the book I wrote for Nanowrimo one year - because I'd always wanted to write it out properly.
Mike
Comment from lyenochka
Lol. I'm puzzling over how many poems can be written about bog. And of course, bog poems would be "opaque." That teacher seemed less interested in teaching than defending his favorite poem. I'm sorry, I have not heard of Heaney. But I did enjoy learning about your school experience and good for you to do the "A-levels" - I'm sure that is an honor for gifted students. Best wishes in the contest!
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2022
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Lol. I'm puzzling over how many poems can be written about bog. And of course, bog poems would be "opaque." That teacher seemed less interested in teaching than defending his favorite poem. I'm sorry, I have not heard of Heaney. But I did enjoy learning about your school experience and good for you to do the "A-levels" - I'm sure that is an honor for gifted students. Best wishes in the contest!
Comment Written 17-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2022
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Thank you :-). To this day, I can't read Seamus Heaney - I just find his work painful but that might be my teacher's fault! She also had us study Anthony and Cleopatra, essentially just so she could tell us what it all meant and mark us down if we interpreted anything different. She was fresh out of university, and decided to teach us all her favourite texts - definitely a mistake!
It's a very strong field in the contest so I have no expectation of placing, but I did enjoy participating. It's going to be hard to decide who to vote for.
Mike
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I hope that teacher learned to teach eventually!
