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What teacher made an impact on you as a kid?
I was in 4th grade when the rug got pulled out from under me with my parents divorcing. I was deathly afraid that my mom was going to leave me too and I would be alone to fend for myself somehow. I would break down and cry almost every day. Kids would stare at me and not know what to say.
My teacher that year was not a warm and fuzzy lady. She wasn't mean, just kind of awkward and no real sense of humor. She would sometimes allow me to eat lunch in the classroom if my crying jag was particularly bad that day. Many times they would have to call my mom to calm me down either over the phone or in person to which that eventually got old and I was told that I couldn't keep pulling her from job especially now that hers was the only income we were going to have.
Sensing my desperation and need for something to comfort me, my teacher kept me for a few minutes after school and gave me a big stuffed mouse that her friend made. It looked like an apple doll I had carved earlier in the year that ended up in the paper before my life exploded. She told me that I couldn't tell the other kids and she could get in trouble but she wanted me to know that someone cared and if I was lonely (I was also a latchkey kid) I could hug the mouse and feel less alone.
Almost 40 years later, I still have that mouse and I will never get rid of it despite it being probably a good 20" tall. That mouse reminds me that in our darkest hour, someone can step forward and be the hero you need in a place you never expected to have one. Thanks Miss G! Your kindness to a quivering heap of a kid has lived on for decades!
What teacher made an impact on you as a kid?
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I had a combo science/music teacher who was also the choir director and I was part of the church choir as a kid and young adult so he was a big part of my life even after I left grade school where he was. He was a bit of a curmudgeon at times but he was still a big influence and encouraged me to pursue music but also gave me the interest in science that I have today - which eventually, I suppose, led to my career in IT. So thanks Mr C!
ReplyDeleteMiss G was a saint. I do think that these days there would be more help for a child going through that. We were expected to bear so much more back then. I had some really mean teachers. My third grade teacher was a gem though, he had all of the kids to his house for dinner in small groups, which was amazing because he had three handsome sons, every girl in the class was in love with them He listened to us, gave us the time of day. I think that is just essential for kids. One of my kid's third grade teacher sits them down on the rug every morning, and lets them all tell things, raise their hand and say random things. I was there for this a few times before field trips, some kids just said things like, "My uncle got a puppy!", but these kids just wanted to be heard, to be seen. She is an excellent teacher. Sorry for the long rant. I am sorry you went through such a rough year, and I totally would have kept the mouse too.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right, there would be more resources today. I did go to a counselor but she was at another school because this school put the po in podunk. LOL Unfortunately, that couldn't last long because mom was always stuck doing it and couldn't keep it up past 6 weeks- just when I was starting to come out of my shell over it. *rolling eyes* I found a pic of the mouse, I'll have to post it Friday!
DeleteOMG, what a lovely man! How special you all must've felt since teacher's lives outside of school seem like a wormhole. LOL (And the eye candy sons didn't hurt!) Aww, your kid's teacher sounds amazing. You're right, people of all sizes just want to be heard!
I didn't have the greatest experience in school because in primary school and middle school I was compared to my sister and heard a lot of, "Why can you be like X?" I went to a different high school, but pretty much kept to myself. I do remember having a speech therapist in the 3rd or 4th grade who I grew attached to at the school. She was very kind and caring.
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