tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322097819850058517.post541469761378650759..comments2023-06-12T04:32:03.116-07:00Comments on Pictures/Thoughts: Ode to Teachers: The Traditional, non-traditional, and everyone in betweenRebbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08117210892683574784noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322097819850058517.post-24156956078234160482010-05-10T07:13:27.045-07:002010-05-10T07:13:27.045-07:00Ah, Vincent, I can see you. I'm so glad you de...Ah, Vincent, I can see you. I'm so glad you decided to also post your photo.<br /><br />Your response gives me much to ponder. I have often been curious through the years about how the educational system differs here in the US by state and also by country. I have not done any research, though.<br /><br />As I reflect back upon my own words and your comments, in my mind this is also a reminder of the power that teachers and the in-between’s have upon children's psyches--the power of their words. There will be all types of students, but for the ones that are not so sure of themselves, it does not help to have teachers say hurtful things. This is just a small view, one person's perspective and experience. <br /><br />You mentioned differences of generation and also of the students knowing their relative positions in the class. After I got past the hurt and accepted that I wasn't going to amount to much at school, I began rebelling a little, cutting classes, and sassing back to teachers, falling in with questionable people. For me, I knew there were rules but I didn't want to follow them and most, if not all of my courses, did not interest me. I did not feel in my element. Academically, high school for me was a total failure and community college almost was too. Even though the road through community college was difficult at first, thank goodness something shifted in me. It's hard to pinpoint any one thing that changed. There were later several encouraging nudges I received along the way and I think if not for this, who knows. So, this ode, focuses on the themes you pointed out and, of course, it is one small slice because I wanted to focus and show what I showed. Not every young human can bounce back, and believe me I've had my ugly moments too, but luckily I also became very self-reflective and in a way reshaped myself, with "helping hands" along the way.<br /><br />It sounds to me that there most definitely is a cultural difference as well. And the fact that your school is having its 400th anniversary says something. The students who attended, I imagine, couldn't be anything more than serious about their education. <br /><br /><br />In looking back, my high school experience felt very much like limbo and I couldn't wait to get out. <br /><br />Question(s), hmm… What questions do you think you'd like to ask the old boys, Vincent? I suppose it would be interesting to know how they viewed their whole educational experience in general and which teachers inspired them and why? Did they have any negative or positive experiences that later helped shape them into the adults they are now? Also, if they have any insights on the differences between US and British education.<br /><br />Have you read Tobias Wolff's "Old School"? If you have not, you might enjoy it.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing your experiences, Vincent. It would be interesting to hear more, and especially interesting to hear how your reunion goes in June.Rebbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08117210892683574784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322097819850058517.post-51433285139501941512010-05-10T06:29:53.760-07:002010-05-10T06:29:53.760-07:00Keiko,
Yes, that is a great quote.
I'm glad ...Keiko,<br /><br />Yes, that is a great quote.<br /><br />I'm glad that you could relate, Keiko. It would be interesting to hear of your experiences.Rebbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08117210892683574784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322097819850058517.post-39397122906319054502010-05-09T08:24:24.457-07:002010-05-09T08:24:24.457-07:00Though I found your post most interesting, and I h...Though I found your post most interesting, and I have read it a few times, I could not think of anything to say by way of comment. Because it was so different from my own recollections of teachers. Your themes appear to be criticism, constructive and unconstructive; encouragement and discouragement.<br /><br />Perhaps teachers should encourage. But I don't remember anything like that, in English or any other subject. All I recall as comment on essays was marks out of 10, or a single terse word or phrase.<br /><br />I think I was educated by a generation of teachers who never thought to build up any kind of mentoring relationship to individual pupils. Perhaps indeed it would have seemed creepy if they did. We knew our relative positions in class because they were announced, and you just had to accept them as a fact of life, like your batting average in cricket. As it happens I was beyond hopeless in all sports and almost always top in class.<br /><br />I think we were just expected to do our best. But I am going to a school reunion in June (the 400th anniversary of its founding in 1610), I will ask other old boys about this. Could you help me formulate a question to them please Rebb?Vincenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18297306807695767580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322097819850058517.post-89550917149955880672010-05-08T05:10:52.481-07:002010-05-08T05:10:52.481-07:00Rebb,
I love the quote: “My barracuda blurbs bel...Rebb,<br /><br />I love the quote: “My barracuda blurbs belie my timorous demeanor.” <br /><br />I feel the same, so I can relate to your experience. As I read this blog, I felt as though I were there with you going up and down in your writing road. Your flower is opening up!keiko amanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10009453048859594709noreply@blogger.com