I just felt like a happy story or two might work right about now. A positive Diary. It will focus on three "cool" teachers I've had. I know you've had a wonderful teacher. Please share below the fold cause I will.
Teacher "Unknown"
I was 6-7 years old. It was 1975 and I lived in Leavenworth, KS. I had some speech issues. Nothing physical, I just didn't pronounce some words correctly. In family lore if you ask my parents the problem was we had just moved from Baton Rouge, LA where my best friends were these twin girls (later became LSU cheerleaders -- another story) my age. Cajun. Spending so much time with them "messed" me up :).
It was clear I could read a word and knew how to pronounce it. But the sounds out of my mouth were not correct.
I don't know this teachers name and even my memory of her is vague, but I do recall her sitting with me for like a year. After school. During recess. Working with me 24/7.
One problem I had that is easy to explain is when I'd said something like "truck" I didn't pronounce the "tr" correctly. Instead I'd say "fruck." I can recall like it was yesterday being told that to produce the "tr" sound my tongue needed to push against my front teeth and the top of my mouth (say truck and feel your tongue do this). It is one of those things you don't even realize you do until you have to "learn" it. She taught me this and much more.
I wish I could recall her name to send her a card. More then once or twice in my life I'd made a lot of money doing public speaking engagements. Who would have ever thought.
Teacher: Mr. Roy
Mr. Roy was a high school history teacher of mine. We almost couldn't find a place to sit in his classroom cause it was like a "living" museum. Stuff everywhere. History right there and all around us. He'd conduct a class on say the Civil War and he'd show up in a Civil War uniform.
That was cool, but not why he is listed here.
I live a few miles from the Cahokia Mounds:
Cahokia (pronounced k??ho?ki.?) Mounds State Historic Site is the area of an ancient indigenous city (c. 600–1400 CE) near Collinsville, Illinois. In the American Bottom floodplain, it is across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. The 2,200-acre (8.9 km2) site included 120 human-built earthwork mounds over an area of six square miles, of which 80 remain. Cahokia Mounds is the largest archaeological site related to the Mississippian culture, which developed advanced societies in central and eastern North America, beginning more than five centuries before the arrival of Europeans.
He took us there on a field trip and I was blown away.
Now Southern Illinois is pretty flat. Corn fields as far as the eyes can see. I told him I thought I found a site we should explore. I saw ancient remains everywhere after that. I am sure in hindsight, 41 years young now, he knew we'd find nothing. But he got permission to go on the field and we working like 8 hours a day for a week on the site. Found nothing of course.
I've found him (like 20 years later) and thanked him. He didn't say this exactly, but I know he just wanted me to stay curious and to explore the world around me.
Teacher: Dr. Morgan
As a dude that often talks about women's right here, you might be stunned to read what you are about to read.
It was 1988. Freshmen in college. Intro sociology class. I kid you not I said this to the female professor in her class:
Sure women are smart. But men are superior. Pick any topic and a man is superior. That is just the way it is.
This would started a conversation that changed my world view in many ways. That conversation went on for the entire class. Went on to where I took every class she taught even though it didn't count to my major. Of course I was wrong ....
I should also add it might have been the first time somebody violently disagreed with me, but was polite about it. Used reason, facts, and logic.
Conclusion
Teachers matter. They shaped, changed, and directed my life.
Now onto your "happy stories." I know they have to be amazing!