posted July 21, 2003 04:50 AM         

This teacher was really strict, and she teaches my most hated subject at that time, History. Usually, this results in a recipe for disaster, with me going through a rebellious streak of stubbornly refusing to do schoolwork for that subject coz all they do is push facts into my head that I'll probably never use in my lifetime.

But she managed to tame me, because she had a different approach (at that time) to history, and really piqued my curiosity. before all I ever encountered about history were always who, what, where, and the most dreaded question, when. With her, we mostly delved with why during class discussions. I really hate objective types of questions (especially enumerations coz frankly, I don't feel like I'm learning with them. If I wanted memory exercises I'll go pick up random stuff and memorize where I placed what). Also she makes history so ******* interesting by leaving us "hanging". If we wanted to find out who killed whom, we gotta read the book. Frustrating when you were there (similar to the experience when you watch a tv series and it's to be continued), but it was effective. After some time, we already know what was gonna happen next even before the class start, but it was really enjoyable. My grades in History improved a lot with her. Still not that strong, but at least I'm decent now.

Also, she held weekly reporting for groups. I enjoyed it very much even if we looked goofy et al. In fact, she encourages this and said, "You see, guys? Maybe he looked stupid, maybe he acted stupid, maybe he IS stupid, but he got your attention throughout the whole report." We were speechless.

posted July 21, 2003 10:29 AM         

excellent topic superbull! sounds like you connected with that teacher and will benefit from it for years to come!

lol dorkus, i had a teacher like that too! he was fresh out of university and was a teacher in training, and wow i was so self conscious around him, lol!

my favorate teacher (and really the only good one i had ever, in school at least) was my kinder/1st grade teacher, mrs bittner. she taught both grades. i remember she loved me just soooo much! she was so kind and gentle and supportive, and never failed to tell me what i delight i was.

this is so awful lol... but i was a total teachers pet with her. it was unfair to the rest of the class which is why i feel guilty but i really needed her attention at the time, family was blech. she used to get me to read the book to the class at story time, she was always praising my abilities and the fact that i was such an animated reader, i did special voices for the characters etc and WOW did she praise me a lot! i miss her. i remember i bumped into her uptown when i was about 17 or so, and i was in a really bad time of life. very messed up, parents, teenage stuff, etc... and i was dismayed and felt shame because i had failed high school and hadnt done anything to make her proud. i was almost embarrassed to talk to her. she was pretty old at the time, so that was my last chance, i think she passed away a few years ago. anyway i am glad i saw her then even though i didnt feel i had given her anything to be proud of, but she was really understanding. i think she told me something like 'dont worry, one day you will shine, although it doesnt look like it now'. she was just amazing. it was a small rural-ish school and apparently she talked about me for years afterward. wow heh. that makes me big time.

wherever you are, mrs bittner, i adore you and thank you for giving me *one* good thing to remember about my childhood! *kisses and hugs to her*

posted July 21, 2003 11:46 AM         

One of the most memorable was Mr. McKendy, a poetry professor. He turned my concept of poetry as an over-elaborated writing form (as wallpaper is to decor, I thought poetry was to the rest of writing) into the wild, unruly, sensual, meant-to-be-read-out-loud experience it is. He had our class passionately debating poems, and writing them, for gourd's sake! I used to bump into him coming back from his rugby practices sometimes. I quoted him for years, and still do!

Thanks super_bull for a neat thread.

posted July 27, 2003 06:44 PM         

Then, in high school, a Sag. and a Taurus-both very set in their ways. I still keep in touch wih them as well. The Taurus though is very, very sick. It's a very sad time for those of us who were/are close to him.

posted July 27, 2003 06:45 PM         

The best thing about his teaching style was the way he held our attention. Rather than delivering his lectures in a monotone, he made them exciting; if there was a point he wanted us to grasp, he would shout, "Do you understand the difference between the pre- and post- revolutionary social structure in France?!? Do you understand the changes Napoleon made? Do you understand how big these changes were?" He definately kept the class awake.