I hope this is a tough question. I hope you have so many memories of terrific teachers that it's hard to choose. Public education seems to be in trouble these days. These days? I heard the same dire warning when I was in college way back when, but I took the courses I needed to get certified anyway. I was a cockeyed optimist even though one of the profs--a white guy visiting from South Africa--claimed that the very idea of universal education was absurd. Maybe it is, but without it, there's no no hope for the American dream.
I watched "Freedom Writers" on DVD this week, and I'm flashing both thumbs up. It's based on a true story. I love true stories about great teachers. I've known many, and I'll mention some in a minute. But first my plug for this movie. It took me a while to get arounf to it because reviewers said it was cliche. Novice teacher gets thrown to the sharks and turns them into goldfish. Same old story. Yeah, right, reviewers, tell me about another remake or part III sequel. Yes, this is the story of a young teacher who makes a difference in a tough neighborhood. It happens, and it makes a hell of a good story. It's based on Erin Gruwell's book Freedom Writers Diary, and she and her students have put their lives where their mouth is by founding the
Freedom Writers Foundation to encourage promising teachers.
As I've probably mention here a time or ten, I taught for 17 years on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, where my husaband and our children are enrolled members. I started in 1970. Erin Gruwell started teaching in Long Beach CA in 1994. We both taught English, and we faced the same problems. Like Erin, I ended up buying books to use in class because all I had were outdated text books. I bought paperbacks, just as she did. There were so many scenes, so many attitudes, so many kids in the movie that echoed my experience. Sadly, so little had changed in 24 years. Oh, the stories. Oh, the memories. I tell you, friends, nothing pleases me more than running into my kids or hearing from them, reminiscing. Teaching is a hard job, but it's the most important job and the most rewarding and the most, the most...okay, I'm biased. But we've got to stop bemoaning the "failure" of our public schools and get serious about improving them. People like Erin Gruwell are out there. Let's get behind them!
My best teachers? Mrs. Wrist, first grade. Who doesn't remember the teacher who taught her to read? Mr. Pierce and Mr. Colyer, among other wonderful high school English teachers who taught me to write well and read great literature. Scary ol' Mr. Foley, probably the best teacher I had--U.S.History--taught me to think, discuss, debate, question. Do you remember a teacher or two who made a difference in your life?
Okay, here's a silly little treat. First year teacher Mrs. Eagle (left), as shown in the Fort Yates High School '70-'71 yearbook. (I was Miss Pierson for the first month of school.) And that's Hillary Swank on the right, and below, with her class.
Has anyone else seen the movie? What did you think? Do you have any great anecdotes about your favorite teachers? Any teachers have any great anecdotes? I have a bunch. Let's remember.
