Yohuru Williams asks, who will you thank when you reflect on your life? Chances are at least one or two of the people who influenced you most were teachers.
“There are abundant examples of the many ways in which teachers change lives. During his acceptance speech for the Tony Awards top honor, Best Musical of 2015, producer Joey Parnes, for example, made it a point to thank “two of my many teachers” as well as “two of my newest teachers” emphasizing the importance of lifelong learning. During the same ceremony, actor Neil Patrick Harris likewise acknowledged his former “teachers in small town New Mexico.” He explained, “When sports were the only option, you showed creativity has a place in the world.” These are wonderful and much needed nods to the importance of and need for continued support of music and arts education. They also illustrate the deep, if not always-obvious ways, teachers can inspire greatness through a challenging assignment, a stimulating discussion, a few well-timed words of encouragement, the unbridled enthusiasm of a librarian, some constructive feedback on a piece of music or art, a successful entry at the science fair or the special attention of a club leader or coach. It is an aspect of the art of teaching that long-term educators cherish.
“Given the continued attacks on the teaching profession from so-called corporate education reformers, these displays of gratitude and emotion are especially welcome as they powerfully reaffirm the quintessence of teaching as a humanistic enterprise.”
Here’s an idea for Néw York Commissioner of Education MaryEllen Elia: Put Yohuru Williams in charge of Buffalo’s public schools. He sees education as a process of developing humans, not a balance sheet
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Lifelong learning does not EQUAL life long testing!
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For sure, our teachers are in our memories forever, even the ones we didn’t like. I am thankful for all the teachers I interacted with, they weren’t perfect but they did inspire me to be an educator when I grew up.
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I appreciate this post after banging my head (figuratively) with news of the latest ambitions of billionaires for whom education is not much more than an investment in a game of power and empty pontificating.
Diane’s closing to this wonderful narrative–an alternative to the endless focus on test scores– is spot on.
I also agree with Paula’s idea that we learn from teachers that we don’t necessarily admire or like–as long as the relationship is not totally out of bounds and really destructive. Some teachers leave us with mixed memories– real appreciation and also something like “I wonder why she/he was not fired?” Others are recalled as quirky, beloved for teaching about life beyond academics.
Bean counters and data-mongers forget that “school” has long been the venue for being with peers an adults who are not kith and kin, learning to give and take, learning to negotiate the often inconsistent rules of the game, developing a sense of fairness, and much else –in principle within a relatively safe haven.
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Most of the teachers I worked with, who might generate mixed feelings in students, started out doing a good job with positive intentions, but in time the stress and pressure from the top burns them out and some turn bitter and their students are the only people the teachers interact with every day so those children hear and see what happens to a teacher who is slowly being systematically destroyed by top down RheeFormers.
For instance, what did the troops on both sides do during World War I when the insanity and horrid violence of trench warfare became too much for them to take?
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I put this up at Huffington, using your link. Have put this one here before, although it is one of many, now that at former students find me on social media.
If you want to know who I am, go to my author’s page at Oped news,http://www.opednews.com/author/author40790.html
but here is an email I got from a young woman , my former student, when she discovered me again and REFLECTED ON HER LIFE…
” This is almost unreal! I am so glad that I have this opportunity to share with you what an inspiration you have been.
“We (Catherine Diana , Leah ) speak so often and so highly of you since we graduated East Side Middle, we jumped out of our seats when Catherine told us she had been in touch with your son’s wife. We have stayed good friends (see pictures attached) and look back to the days in your class and know that you had such an enormous impact on or lives till this day.
” You encouraged us to be creative, patient and yet free, a most valuable lesson. We joke sometimes that your class was better than our sophomore year college literature class, but actually it’ not funny at all- its true. I still have the assignments you gave us and cherish them, and still remember the books you had us read. I remember feeling so confident in your class, a feeling no other teacher made me feel at that confusing time in a teenagers life.
“You combined a perfect balance of discipline and a genuine love of teaching young people, a quality which so many teachers lack in the public school systems and therefore deeply saddens me to hear that you are no longer teaching there.”
“Little Bio: With your encouragement I auditioned for the art program at LaGuardia high school . I then attended The School of Art and Design at SUNY Purchase and graduated with a BFA …AND SHE GOES ON.
THIS is what made it all worthwhile!
THIS is why we need to keep the talented & educated EXPERIENCED professionals, and to support LEARNING by supporting their practice and letting them do what they do best…. ENABLE & FACILITATE LEARNING.”
and may I add here:
We don’t teach…. we help kids to learn, by knowing our profession, pedagogy… how the brain acquires skills… like the ones we need ignored to THINK AND ANALYZE the nonsense the media puts before our eyes. How can we compare and contrast the statements that politicians make, if what we read in school has no connection to the evidence, or to observable reality… truth.
Prior knowledge is the basis for all analysis, hypothesis, prediction & synthesis.
We professionals know what it takes to reach those kids who sit in front of us… or at least we should know… and that is why colleges must prepare real educators in best practice, and not merely train them to do triage.
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Laura , Lloyd and everyone..have you heard what King Charles (Koch) says about his own power… http://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/Charles-Koch-Admits-He-Nee-in-Best_Web_OpEds-FACT_Government-Shut-down_Government-Takeover_Koch-Brothers-150809-822.html#comment558008
Last weekend Charles Koch claimed that he did not yet have enough, or complete, control over the government because, “if I had all this power, why aren’t the many things I want changed getting changed?”
“In fact, Koch said it was “ludicrous” that he had too much power because there is no such thing in his mind ( as too much power!)
To achieve their goal the Kochs are willing to spend nearly a billion dollars to achieve the level of power he demands. Koch’s remark is as clear an indication that he still does not possess, and is ardently seeking, the ultimate power of an oligarchical tyrant. He actually had the temerity to say in public that, “wow, believe me if I had too much power a lot of things would change.”
The Kochs want; complete elimination of the entire government, and the billion dollars these coal barons spend on our election is chump change. Thanks t Citizen’s United, the plutocrats will win… which is why Bernie Sanders introduced a bill to end it… go Bernie!
Support Bernie… feel the Bern, and not the Koch knock-down of our government.
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Thank you. And be sure you (everyone) are a registered democrat in order to get Bernie the democratic nomination in the primaries. You can not vote in the democratic primary if you are not a democrat. First step; get Bernie the nomination.
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Bernie is the first real, authentic candidate to declare. Anyone who goes to his site to learn the issues and the outcomes which he, (NOT SOME CAMPAIGN HANDLER) will work to achieve , will know he is talking TO THE PEOPLE.
The crucial thing to know, is that these issues are not new stuff for him…his record in Congress shows that he is a man of the people. If you are in doubt as to wash he offers… just listen to him..
https://berniesanders.com/issues/
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