Mission Monday

Today is a great day.  As you all know, it's the first day of school!  Yippee, skippee!

My kids return to school has me thinking about my own school years.  The good, the bad and the ugly.  I'm not sure what I'd classify as the good - although there were many years when absolutely nothing happened, I don't remember anything stellar.  I'm sure, though, that someone will probably correct me on this.

I do remember some things about my school years that were less than stellar.  Like the time in fourth grade that I passed gas in the hallway, during study period, in front of a dozen other kids. Or the time in fifth grade that I went to do an errand for my teacher and I got locked out of the school.  I remember in sixth grade, at a new school, when one girl decided that I was the scapegoat for the year and she bullied me all year long.  She teased me mercilessly in the bathroom, and, as a result, I avoided the bathroom for the year.  Sixth grade was the worst year for me.  I didn't fit in at all.  Once, that girl tripped me and I dropped my clutch purse - remember those?  the wooden handle purses that you could button different fabrics onto? - in the hallway and everything spilled out.  Including my foil wrapped maxi pad, which the boys proceeded to play catch with.

There was good stuff, though. I remember the french fries, the frozen dolly madison cupcakes that my mom packed, and the lunch boxes. I remember friends and fun time at the playground.  In particular, I remember two of my teachers.  Mr. Lucas was my third grade teacher, and he was my first exposure to what would later be classified as a "hippie".  He was tall, bearded and had a perm.  He wore plaid pants and a natty hat, but the most important part was that he made school fun and learning a blast. (That was also the year I swallowed a marker cap and had to be on "poop watch" patrol.  How fuuuuunnnnnn!)

The other teacher was in sixth grade.  This was the first year in a new school, and it was the first year we switched teachers.  She taught English.  I was grossly unpopular, really enjoyed classical music, wore glasses and braces, and hid in books.  All of my free time was spent in the library. I read at lunch, I walked through the halls with my nose in a book, in order to avoid dealing with anyone. I quickly read all of the books in the library, and she brought in her own books for me to read.  One of those books was Girl of the Limberlost.  I DEVOURED that book. In all of my free time, I talked books with this teacher.  Twenty five years later, I don't remember exactly what that book was about, but I remember how much I loved it, and how grateful I was to her to take the time to help me.  I bought that book for Allegra, and she read it and felt equally happy with it.  I don't remember much about Mrs. Bowen, but I have warm happy feelings about the first teacher that I really felt cared about me. 

Your Mission for Monday is to tell me about your favorite teacher.  Either here or on your own blog, I want to know who that teacher was, what grade you were in, and how that teacher did his or her job to bring out the best in you.  What teacher do you remember?

(Oh, and as a funny, I found out tonight that my son's high school PE teacher graduated high school class of 1995.  I was the class of 1987.  Crap, do I feel old.)

Comments

[Elizabeth]

When I took my now 14 yo daughter to kindergarten, I was amused that her teacher was a teacher I had for 2nd grade her very first year teaching. However, when I asked "Mrs. X" - "Hi, weren't you Miss Y when you started teaching?" she actually turned pale and said "Oh, I don't think I want to hear this. Are you old enough to have a kindergartner already?" And that was my 2nd child. Apparently she was only Miss Y for one year and had guessed why I asked.

My favorite teacher in high school was an older, single woman who lived in an apartment up the street from the school and traveled a lot in the summers. It was my first realization that people might choose to spend their money differently than my parents did - like by not having kids, living in a cheap apartment, and budgeting all year to travel. She taught all of the gifted classes - every subject - and was the speech and debate coach. I learned everything I used in college from her. The most delightful thing was learning about her over the years. That she had cigarettes in her freezer (an adult I admired smoked - gack!), she liked a beer when out with the other coaches, and had a friendly nickname with them, her sister wrote inspirational books for teens, she wrote a murder novel in which she killed off a character based on someone she didn't like, and said the most confusing thing ever: "I would never be willing to marry a man who would be willing to marry me." How sad. But, what a gift to all of the kids whom she had a hand in raising.

[sandra]

Mrs. Lifford. Senior English. Man. She was a peach. I just may write about her.

[Chris]

My favorite teacher was my HS English teacher. God, she was great! I ended up taking several other classes in her room because she was that awesome.

What's even better is that now I work with her every day! She is still the same great person!

[Stephanie C.]

We have "Girl of the Limberlost" on video. I never read the book, but my girls liked the movie a lot.

[margalit]

Come read about Mr Levine.

http://outtamymindwithworry.blogspot.com/2006/08/memories-of-junior-high-carmen-blogger.html

[Mary]

I just did a very lengthy post concerning teachers.

http://novaks.blogspot.com

[Earth Girl]

I'm restoring the gardens at Wildflower Woods, the home of Gene Stratton-Porter, author of Girl of the Limberlost. She was the J.K. Rowling of her time, with an eagerly awaited best-seller every year. She started out writing nature studies, but they didn't sell until she wrapped a romantic story around the study. Naturalist, photographer, author, she was a fascinating woman and so little remembered. If anyone is near northeastern Indiana, stop by the Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site in Rome City.

[Hayes]

I had a teacher I loved in High School. She cared about us, really worked with us, and treated us like people. Turns out she is a bit nutso. Ignorance is bliss.

Our class in the high school years was really close, and that was really our best teaching. WE had 2 fuys who were almost failing English. So we took turns tutoring them. Got them both up to solid C's so we could all graduate together.

[Amy]

I was blessed with many great teachers over the years, in elementary school, junior high and high school. Two who are most memorable were Mr. McGuire my speech and debate and philosphy teacher and Ms. Gilbert, my Shakespeare teacher both from Willow Glen High School. They were dynamic and interesting. I learned how to learn from them and was inspired too!

[Cookie]

I had lots of fav teachers. I was such a nerd. :)

Girl of the Limberlost is my ultimate, all time, read-it-10-times favourite book. Hmmm.. I think I may have to read it again...

[FishyGirl]

Okay, I posted about school/teachers today, too:

http://fishygirl.typepad.com/the_fish_pond_where_we_ju/2006/08/hodgepodge.html

This was fun - thanks for the mission!

[GiGi]

Mission completed.

http://mamimobile.blogspot.com/2006/08/my-favorite-teachers-mom-to-screaming.html

[Anna]

ooo I liked this one! As ever, you've come up with a topic that's got me thinking. And out of a non-posting rut!

Click on my name and it'll take you straight to my blog and my post on school and teachers.

[Lassa]

Ohmygod, I had one of those purses! I totally forgot about it until right now :)

[Sandra]

3rd grade Mrs. Wiley. She was tall, blonde, wore high heels that clopped when coming down the hall, she had Farrah hair, beautiful and she gave me the attention and encouragement I needed in a very difficult transitional year for me. It was the year after my parent's divorce. I moved back in w/ my father back to the little town we moved from 1 year prior. 2nd grade had probably been the worst year academically and personally for me b/c it was the year my parent's were divorced and the year I spent living w/ my mother. 3rd grade was the year that reading, math and all my subjects came together for me. I was finally performing on a level I was capable of and doing well. Mary Wiley will always be my "favorite" teacher.

Thanks for bringing back such a pleasant memory. :)

[Erin]

My favorite teacher was my 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Wise. She was really nice and always gave me extra attention and paitence since my mother died partway during the year and was terminally ill for the first half.