Who's Your Favorite

Who Was Your Favorite

Do you remember your school days? If so, do you remember who your absolute favorite teacher was? I graduated in 1978 so it’s been a while since I’ve been in school. I vaguely recall a teacher in the third or fourth grade. I had written a paper and I had to stand up and read it for the class. After I was done, she told me I did an excellent job. It sits in my memory because most of my school days involved skipping most classes and doing whatever the heck I wanted to do. Not paying attention in school was something I did on a daily basis. Not taking advantage of the programs, athletic or academic is something I regret. I should have studied more; I should have paid better attention. But I didn’t and there is no going back, only forward. Live and let live.

My Memory Fades

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My fourth-grade teacher was Mrs. Rohrback. For some reason I remember her, and the memory I have is of a boy standing at the blackboard with his nose in a circle she had drawn. He must have done something bad. I do not recall what it was he did, but I do have a vivid memory of him standing there. She was the teacher who would spank us for our birthdays also. This was an accepted practice back then. Today they would never get away with it. Back in the day they could hit us and they took full advantage of that. I recall being slapped a few times. Looking back, I’m sure I most likely deserved it.

Troublemaker

In middle school I have a memory of sitting in the hallway. I must have been acting out, because I was taken out of class and delegated to the hallway. The teacher was male, and I do believe he was a math teacher. 

I Don't Think I Had One

As far as having a favorite teacher, I am not sure I had one. Teachers have a hard enough job, and I wasn’t a good student. I didn’t like to listen; I was always acting out. I was always in some kind of trouble. Looking back, I’m sure it was lack of parental attention that was the root of the problem. Being a kid, I didn’t know why I did the things I did.

Teachers can be mentors if you let them. Listen, pay attention. Don’t smart off. Be good, follow the rules and most important of all listen and absorb.

High School Daze

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By the time I got to high school all hope was lost for me. I was what I was and there was no changing it. I had many different teachers, none of them stuck in my mind except for one younger guy who I had for what class I do not remember. For some reason he liked me, but of course I wasn’t the most cooperative and he later left to go to a different school.

I drifted through high school and graduated, leaving everything and everyone behind. I wanted nothing to do with any of it. To this day I do not keep in touch with anyone I went to school with. Nor do I remember any of my teachers with any kind of fondness. Is this entirely my fault? Most of it maybe, but I was a kid. School is for learning, when I attended it was mostly for going outside to smoke, or skipping class, drinking, and partying.

So, although I did not favor any teachers, I do have a strong memory of another guy who I had in high school. If you look back at my posts, you will find out why. I wrote about him earlier and don’t care to go into it again. If he was a teacher today, I don’t believe he would still be teaching, he would have gotten fired. Let’s put that all behind me and continue on.

Not For Me

School wasn’t for me. Bottom line. What saved me was Law Enforcement. It made me grow up, take things seriously, and be a good person.

Teachers come and teachers go. What we learn from them is up to us. We should sit and listen and acknowledge what the teacher says. Or at least act like we are. Don’t behave the way I did. It gets you nowhere fast.

Be a good role model, get the most out of school. Even if you don’t like your teacher. Soak up all the knowledge you can. It will give you an edge when you get out of school. 

Be positive, not negative.

Teachers, God gave them to us to learn. Take advantage of it. Get your listening ears ready.

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