I drive by two schools on my way to work every day. This week, the marquis sign out in front of both schools announced that it was "Teacher Appreciation Week."
Last week, I wrote about reading and books and how important they are in my life. Since I haven’t seen any diaries on Teacher Appreciation this week, I thought I would devote tonight’s Top Comments diary to teachers and how important they have been to me.
Except Math teachers; you guys are sadistic. Math teachers must go immediately to Top Comments detention, do not collect $200; and no, I don’t care how many different amounts of nickels, dimes, and quarters can make up that amount, and I’m not submitting an equation showing all my work.
So there.
Since I have been out of any type of school for at least five years, I promise that I am not trying to cheese my way to an "A." Cross my heart. Back when life was simple, and all I had to do was go to school and learn, I didn’t appreciate the people who gave me the tools and taught me how to use them. I do now, because those skills helped me become the person I am today.
And I also want it noted that I have not been a resident in any correctional facility; like a lot of my teachers probably expected.
I’m going to focus mainly on one or two college professors, with a hat tip to one of my high school teachers. I don’t remember much about elementary school, I think I am getting oldtimer’s disease and my memory is starting to fade. The only thing significant I remember is my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Haller, who not only interacted with us in the classroom and made learning (mostly) fun (except for math), but came out and played kickball and dodgeball with us at recess. I thought that was just the coolest thing ever.
To my high school Librarian and English teacher, Mrs. Yarberry, thank you for making me read Billy Shakes and helping me understand and love his writing. Thanks for hauling the whole hormone-addled Junior English class to a presentation of "Julius Caesar." That was not only nice, but brave, since I remember a lot of us were juvies in the making (or more interested in studying anatomy with a lab partner of the opposite sex).
I’m really sorry that the boy I later married and his friends killed your geraniums. I think they were acting out over having to read "Anna Karenina." Hey, when you teach in a farming community, you gotta watch your plants better. Chances are pretty high that at least one of your students has access to their dad’s water activated herbicide.
To my Freshman English Comp professor, Dr. Stewart; you know, I really hated you at first. My advisor put me in your class because all the others were filled up. You gave me my first "D" ever and I deserved it. That was a horrible paper I wrote. You made me work really hard for every "B" and "A" I got in your ENG101 class. When it came time to sign up for ENG102; I chose to take your class, because I knew you would make me learn, and you would push me to write well thought-out papers.
I am so glad I made that decision, because I write a lot of reports for work; and I am also subjected to a lot of the writings crap my colleagues produce. I can honestly say that taking your classes has paid off. Thank you for teaching me that what I write is a reflection of who I am; and if I want people to think I am smart, I have to write smart.
College Math professors are even more evil than high school math teachers. Sadists.
To Dr. Christie, my history prof, thank you for including the phrase "Education is the only thing that can never be taken away from you; once you earn it, it’s your’s to keep," in just about all your lectures. I hear your voice in my head every day, beating those words into my brain. I’ve even been known to recite it to coworkers, friends, some of the younger trainees I’ve been mentoring, and even my husband. That phrase helped nudge me towards graduate school, and still gets me through tedious hours spent researching cases.
And to all the rest of the teachers out there tonite reading this; Thank you. Even though the students you teach today may not appreciate you, or realize how special you are for teaching, or how important what you teach is (except calculus, you guys kinda fibbed when you said I’d have to use logarithms in everyday life); some day down the road they will.
To the readers of tonight's Top Comments diary; I challenge you to remember your teachers and say something nice down below.
Now on to tonite's Top Comments!:
From Predictor:
The sweet & simple Comment made to me by mcmom in the aftermath of my having dental work done without the use of Novacaine.
From BeninSC:
Red no more on Repub subsidies for tobacco in states.
rlharry on the boney bigot? :)
Trix provides a favorite pictorial from Groundhog Day. : )
Don't you feel for the poor underprivileged rich people? zashvil does! ;x
rogerdaddy sends in this comment from xxdr zombiexx's Pot is not like tobacco. Please make a note of it. Thanks. diary on something he thinks should get more attention.
From madgranny:
An important timeline from an excellent diary by Mary2002, Lobbyist Discusses Getting Rid Of Iglesias With Sr Gonzales Counsel
From A Siegel:
In my examination of News Corporation's new 'climate change' strategy Unquoting "Fair and Balanced"? Murdoch going green; Hekebolos shows us why he can earn a living in the advertising world with an explanation as to when "climate change" is appropriate wording and when we should say "Global Warming".
There were a huge number of great comments and thoughts reacting to Be Afraid: The Peak Oil news isn't good ... but two really stand out for me. Pfiore states why he rejects pessimism and finishes with a line that merits quoting here: "Life is temporary, but I'm wired to want to leave something that lasts...." And, Dbunn reacts to my description of myself as an "optimistic pessimist" with another comment worth quoting: "Optimism ... of the will, pessimism of the mind. These are not contradictory things."
To his (MUST READ) Eco-Diary Rescue Meteor Blades added thoughts about what is missing in the environmental discussions on Daily Kos.
My picks:
From Miss Snarkypants's 93-Year Old Republican Shows How Bad Bush Has Been For Republican Party diary; Lunch Lady snarks at Bush's promise to be a "Uniter," and friendlyfire tells us why he's tired of Republicans.
Top Mojo will be coming soon!