Great things your teachers have taught you

[MarxSchmarx]

So we have a thread that pays due homage to how educators play the part of enforcers of bourgeois rule.

http://www.revleft.com/vb/ridiculous-things-your-t170540/index.html

Here I propose a thread that celebrates the great contributions men and women during the course of our lives who have taught us well and imparted upon us wisdom we will keep till our dying days.

Let me start:

First grade: "Your head is not a decoration". Upon me correcting a shirt I put on backwards without taking it off.

Second grade: Read the newspaper - we had to do a report on a current event everyday in front of the class.

...

Sixth year: Even grown-ups can admit to being wrong - After claiming that the distinction between vertebrates and invertebrates is parental care, I pointed out the example of sea turtles, my teacher thought about it, and said, yeah, that's true, huh.

Ninth year: We spend more on prisons than we do on schools.

Eleventh Year: Visited a prison, learned about black market for arms in depth from a reformist educator.

All of university has had too many great educators to quote from. I guess one that I still remember was from a professor who had multiple surgeries that lost half his body and half his eye sight. He told us:


On a student evaluation, somebody said: "the professor has one leg, one eye, and no hair." I understand the stuff about the prosthetic leg and the eye patch, yeah, that can be offputting, but the fact that I'm balding - come on, that's below the belt.

I've dwelled on that quote probably as much as anything I learned in that professor's class.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Nothing exactly specific but when I was in night school my teacher taught me how to write formally and as a result gave me a great deal of confidence.

[Anarcho-Brocialist]

I remember Mrs. Schneider, she taught me how to read in pre-school. I miss her dearly; she was also my neighbor and the school was right up the street from our houses, and she'd take us to the garden on a summers day and spread apple butter on bread and cook treats for us.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

I've had two English teachers who really gave me an environment where my creative writing skills could flourish. My 9th grade teacher was so impressed with my writing, particularly how descriptive it was that my paper was the only one that ever got put up on her wall and she would show it off to people :cool:. I hated poetry before my senior year but my 12th grade teacher made it awesome(Even gave us a poem with a reference to Marx in it as an example, it was a bad ass poem). I loved going up and reading my poems. Her and I had such a great connection, and she loved reading my papers, always had great comments on them. I guess I'm a really great writer when I try but I haven't written anything since that class, which is kind of depressing.

My 10th grade history teacher taught me about empathy and how to care about what other people were going through again. Kind of a weird thing to learn but I used to not give a fuck about anybody or their feelings.

[Nox]

If it weren't for my history teachers, I would never have become a Communist. I followed the typical high-school route of learning about the USSR and being fascinated by the idea of Communism then doing more and more research in to it until I realised I liked it.

[Left Leanings]

Three things stand out.

I did Environmental Science in secondary school. The teacher took us all into the school allotment, and showed us how to use a dibber to plant seeds. He allowed me to take home some parsnip seeds. My nan had just moved into a new council gaff, and it had a garden. So I planted the seeds, and went to visit regularly to check on the crop. After the first frost, I harvested them. And they were HUGE. I took the parsnips home, and me mam cooked them, and mashed them up. I mixed them with salt n pepper, and brown sauce. I've loved parsnips ever since, but prreviously I had always hated them.

Also, I did CSE as well as O-Level Religious Studies. There was no modularity or coursework and projects in those days. Certainly not at O-Level. But the CSE allowed for a 20 per cent of your assessment to come from a project, to support the examination result. I did a pictorial study of my local church. I was allowed the keys to let myself in and out. I took rubbings of the mosaics. I interviewed the church organist, and the curate. I totally fucking loved doing this. It was way more practical than academic, and immensely enjoyable.

I got far more out of the two experiences above, than out of any other educational experience, including sixth-form and university.

Thirdly, my Head of Year, once quoted this adage in Assembly, and I've always remembered it: giving isn't giving until it hurts... Kind of like the widow's mite from the Bible, and all that. And it's true enough. Spare a few pennies, when you've got hundreds of pounds, it's fuck all. Spare someone a few minutes or an hour. But cancel a recreational activity you're looking forward to, to help someone out, then that's cost ya.

Oh, one more thing. Student teacher in Primary School, on her placement. Miss Katherines. I will never forget her. She taught me about nuclear weapons. Not officially. She wasn't supposed to. I was only little, and she told me about these huge bombs that could blow the whole world up. I cried and cried and cried. But at least then I was aware. Oh, and when I was being bullied one day, she walked me home, right the way to my front door. I really liked her. I asked her if she was gonna come back to the school. She said maybe when you're in your Fourth year (I was in the First Year of Primary then). She didn't come back. Got a placement elsewhere, or quit teacher training maybe, I dunno. But I always waited on her coming back lol :) :)

[Lynx]

Teachers taught me to read and to listen. I remain a dilettante.

[Franz Fanonipants]

How to shut up and listen

[Firebrand]

The year 7 maths teacher that managed to hammer basic maths skills through my head. My life would be a lot harder if he hadn't.
And the teacher I had in reception who showed me that no-matter how persuasive, and convinced you are that you are right, you can't force other people to agree with you.

[scarletghoul]

they taught me that the education system here is a disgusting piece of shit that must be done away with

[Ostrinski]

My AP english teacher my sophomore year taught me how to love again.

Also, great thread idea.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

In the fourth grade my teacher taught me something simple but something that I will remember always: heat escapes from your head and feet the fastest, so wear a hat and socks!

[The Machine]

so one time this teacher taught me that if i didnt stop cutting class id end up a garbageman. so after double checking with my mom i went back to class and volunteered to do a problem on the board. i got it right, and then i wrote my own problem on the board. i wrote 24000 dollars, the salary of a teacher, under 28000 dollars, the salary of a garbage man. turns out if i was a garbageman i would make 4000 more dollars than his dumb ass.

this other time a nice white lady came and taught my class and we all to college and made bank.

and then this one time i saw this guy, i think he was a teacher, at a bar. it was a classy bar so me and my friends felt a little out of place. anyways my friend was chatting up some girls and this guy, the teacher looking guy, was about to teach him that he was out of line. but it turns out he was plagiarizing his lesson, and i called him on it. long story short it was before cell phones and i got the girls number on a piece of paper and then later that night i showed it to him through a window of a restaurant where he was eating or something.

[#FF0000]

too much to list here, honestly. i'm still friends with a lot of my high school teachers.

[Zav]

My eighth grade prof de histoire taught me that history books lie and to question absolutely everything. Et donc aujourd'hui je suis un Anarchiste. Merci beaucoup, Monsieur M! If he hadn't I probably would not be political today, or would still be in the Social-Démocrat phase I was in at 15 au mieux. I'm in a French mood today, I guess. That was the most important thing a teacher ever taught me. Another History teacher introduced me to heavy metal (via Maiden), and an Ecology teacher taught me to stand up for my political beliefs.

[dodger]

About 15 my teacher gave me 4 strokes of the cane on each hand. After going into the corridor I returned with a book given by another teacher to be passed on to my tormentor. I knocked and entered. Empty. Then I heard someone from the storeroom.. I looked through the gap in the door he was sobbing, UNCONTROLLABLY and had broken the cane.

WHAT a WANKER!!!

we all agreed that Mr Muhamad, was the weirdest teacher in the whole school.

He even gave us record tokens for effort or improvement. Still shame he died, avalanche in the alps, skiing holiday. Strange to hear that as he was from Mauritius. His poor Ma visited the school after I left and read airmail letters to the Assembly how much he had loved us, and had faith in us.

What a Wanker!!! Still I did have 2 record tokens, no other qualifications. So perhaps I should pause and let bygones be bygones!!


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[Krano]

My christian fundementalist religion teacher turned me into an atheist and my economics teacher who praised Capitalism turned me into a Communist.

[Left Leanings]

My christian fundementalist religion teacher turned me into an atheist and my economics teacher who praised Capitalism turned me into a Communist.

Now those were lessons worth learning :) :)

[Pretty Flaco]

I remember Mrs. Schneider, she taught me how to read in pre-school. I miss her dearly; she was also my neighbor and the school was right up the street from our houses, and she'd take us to the garden on a summers day and spread apple butter on bread and cook treats for us.

i cant tell if this is serious or not

[dodger]

The only time I saw my Ma really ashamed of me. I caught sight of her out of the corner of my eye. I was 15yrs old, she had given me a course of dancing lessons. My beloved sister felt compelled to tell me later, that the Teacher said "Mrs Dodger, I CANNOT IN ALL CONSCIENCE KEEP YOUR MONEY. HERE IS A REFUND." "But".."No 'buts', I cannot allow you to waste your money, besides, just look how unhappy he is. THE POOR GIRL TOO!!"

R E S U L T

[ColonelCossack]

"Communism in my opinion would work better than capitalism"

Sadly by "communism" he meant some kind of liberalist shit... this guy thinks labours socialist. poor mr stokes.

He gave me 8a on something I once did in History in year 9... users who went to secondary school in the UK i n trhe last 10 years might know what that means.

[Offbeat]

He gave me 8a on something I once did in History in year 9... users who went to secondary school in the UK i n trhe last 10 years might know what that means.
Ah 8A, the pinnacle of KS3! :D I remember history in year 9, it was all about showing empathy rather than analysis for some reason.

[Nox]

8a

You fucking beast

[WanderingCactus]

I remember one particular Social Studies teacher. He was a hugely anti-communist conservative; no matter what the lesson was about, he'd often bring it back around to how much he hated communism. I had already done some surface readings of Marx and expressed my interest in learning more. My teacher had his usual rant, but the next day he sat a copy of the Manifesto on my desk and said "more fuel for the fire."

Dude was cool.

[Misanthrope]

I remember one particular Social Studies teacher. He was a hugely anti-communist conservative; no matter what the lesson was about, he'd often bring it back around to how much he hated communism. I had already done some surface readings of Marx and expressed my interest in learning more. My teacher had his usual rant, but the next day he sat a copy of the Manifesto on my desk and said "more fuel for the fire."

Dude was cool.

My 8th grade teacher was the same and he gave me a copy of the manifesto as well.. Miss that guy.

[corolla]

The best thing any teacher ever taught me was to skip class as often as possible. Obviously they didn't teach me this directly, but they taught me to hate being there so much that it was inevitable.

All my teachers always hated me, and at the beginning, there wasn't even any reason for it, or if there was, I never had any idea what it was. As a child, this was so confusing. So eventually, I gave up, and I started giving them real reasons to hate me.

Fuck teachers, honestly. Coppers in plain clothes, as far as I'm concerned. They shatter the souls of young people.

[Left Leanings]

The best thing any teacher ever taught me was to skip class as often as possible. Obviously they didn't teach me this directly, but they taught me to hate being there so much that it was inevitable.

All my teachers always hated me, and at the beginning, there wasn't even any reason for it, or if there was, I never had any idea what it was. As a child, this was so confusing. So eventually, I gave up, and I started giving them real reasons to hate me.

Fuck teachers, honestly. Coppers in plain clothes, as far as I'm concerned. They shatter the souls of young people.

Your post made me think of this song, by Pink Floyd, Another Brick In The Wall:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goV8g3SakaM

It refers to 'we don't need no thought control', and 'no dark sarcasm in the classroom'.

To be fair, many teachers do an excellent job, in trying circumstances and with limited resources. They are just as much as fucked-over by the bosses education system and its priorities, as are the kids.

I can relate to your post, though. Some teachers are just plain assholes, tbh. I had my fair share of run-ins with them, and some kids were treated like shit by them - often the poorer and less able ones. And then teachers wonder why kids skip class, or tell them to 'go fuck' themselves.

I stuck it out, though.

[Deicide]

Nothing worthwhile, it's quite sad really.

[Jimmie Higgins]

I had a high school history teacher who told us that Henry VIII's corpse exploded after being left on display. And then his dogs ate what fell off the slab he had been displayed on.

[hatzel]

French. I mean...

Le français :cool:

Or this gem of a quote from my linguistics teacher:


If you see this word, 'horse,' you will think of a certain animal. It might be brown, it might be white, there are different kinds of horse, and some run faster than others and people put money on them, but it will never become a cow.
...genius that man! Oooh, the presence of such wisdom makes my brain ache...

[Doflamingo]

I remember one particular Social Studies teacher. He was a hugely anti-communist conservative; no matter what the lesson was about, he'd often bring it back around to how much he hated communism. I had already done some surface readings of Marx and expressed my interest in learning more. My teacher had his usual rant, but the next day he sat a copy of the Manifesto on my desk and said "more fuel for the fire."

Dude was cool.

I would go back to him and tell him that he inspired you to become a communist by giving you the manifesto.

[Revolution starts with U]

(Don't know if this was said yet but...)

Not to trust authority :cool:

[ForgedConscience]

Hmm, there are other good things than this which have been ingrained in my being by a couple of teachers, though for now I can't quite articulate them. This one is simple but worthwhile:

'If you think I'm wrong, tell me.'
Ah, critical thought what would I do without you.

[thriller]

My 4th grade teacher. Just super awesome guy who taught math two ways so everyone could understand. He'd also play the Scorpions and Bon Jovi during class :D
My AP Euro teacher. He was very un-biased (we often debated communism after class) and really helped everyone realize that primary sources are where it is at.
My English 2 teachers made us write two research papers over the semester (4000 words each) and helped show me the ropes of research databases and using quotes in texts.

[Left Leanings]

I remember one particular Social Studies teacher. He was a hugely anti-communist conservative; no matter what the lesson was about, he'd often bring it back around to how much he hated communism. I had already done some surface readings of Marx and expressed my interest in learning more. My teacher had his usual rant, but the next day he sat a copy of the Manifesto on my desk and said "more fuel for the fire."

Dude was cool.

Right there, is an example of a good teacher. They disagree with your views, but will go out of their way to encourage you in your learning, rather than cutting off the oxygen supply in the educational process.


I would go back to him and tell him that he inspired you to become a communist by giving you the manifesto.

That would be pretty cool, actually. And as a fair and open teacher, he would probably be delighted.

[Landsharks eat metal]

My history teacher taught me "Better dead than red" and "the only good commie is a dead commie", leading me to discover that he was an ass, which encouraged me to research communism to figure out what it really meant, if that counts.

[Zealot]

My teacher of Biblical Criticism in the seminary I was studying at. He was a devoted Christian but also had the capacity to be critical of everything, something he passed on to me. He was also a Filipino with a PhD and many years of experience, and he once confided in me that he was being paid a lot less compared to the other less-qualified, less-experienced teachers at the school because of racism.

When I was 6 or 7 I was falling behind on my spelling and reading abilities so my teacher devoted some of her extra time to helping me. I went from being the worst to being the best speller in my class :cool:

Then, of course, when I was about 10 there was Mr. McLaughlin; Mr. Mac we used to call him. He had a way of making learning fun and the way he would read a story is something I've never seen before or since. Expression, volume and the violent swinging of a meter-long wooden ruler all over the place.

[Magón]

The best thing a teacher ever taught me, was that in college/uni, it's really nothing more than a place to find a mate. Which being at a university, I can say is all too true when it comes to being taught and learning things. It's better to be out there, checking people out, than some of what they teach us.

[smellincoffee]

My tenth grade history teacher was the first to help me realize that historical events aren't a series of dots set in succession: nothing happens in a vacuum, and history is more of a streak than a series, each event growing from another and setting the stage for that which follows.

My History of Western Civ professor was the first to ever mention religion in a cynical manner; his idle comments make me look at religion objectively for the first time, and I quickly found freedom from it. He and my English professor also gave me an inkling as to what I wanted to do with my life.

There are two professors from my university years, one a European history specialist and the other a Marxist sociologist, and from them I gleaned too much insight to measure. I was already left leaning at the time (I counted myself a social democrat), but the information I took away from studying social change in the 19th and early 20th centuries made conventional thinking impossible.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

One of my old history teachers - didn't really teach me anything political but gave me a leg up with some work experience in his school (i'm going into teaching) when he didn't really owe me anything. Respect that a lot.