An educational trip down memory lane

A woman approached me a few weeks ago while I was eating lunch at Boon Burger to ask me if I was my sister. Clearly this woman is part of the 99.9 per cent of the population who believes my sister and I look alike (the counter argument being made from myself, my sister and our mother).

The woman proceeded to tell me that she was my sister’s Grade 8 teacher, that she always thought my sister was funny and that she still has a Christmas ornament my sister gave her as a gift on her class tree.

It amazed me that this woman could so clearly remember one student she taught over 16 years ago when she probably teaches hundreds of students every year.

While interviewing people for my Education degree article in our Education themed issue, I got the chance to talk to some very motivated and inspiring people.

“When you’re in charge of a group all day everyday you become a part of their family – it’s not something you can leave at the workplace – it’s hard to separate work from home,” said Pat Isaak, president of The Manitoba Teacher’s Society.

Pat and I talked about how involved teacher’s get in a student’s life. These are people who spend every day for a year getting to know a group and watching them grow.

“You go through that every year and you become very attached to the students – you pour a lot of yourself and your heart into the job. There is a really intense attachment,” she said.

Ask any kid and I guarantee you, nine times out of 10, the kids of who don’t say “mom” or “dad” or “my dog Skipper” are going to tell you that their hero is one of their teachers.

My Teacher My Hero is an U.S.-based website where people can submit “Thank you” stories about teachers who have inspired, encouraged and changed their lives – and in turn have become their heroes.

Jo Macdonald, an Education student at U of W asked me to think about my own experiences as a student; to really think back and remember the people who’ve influenced me.

For me, the one teacher in my public school education who really influenced me was my Grade 11 Canadian History and Grade 12 European History teacher, Mr. Young.

He had such a passion for history – it ooooozed. Because he was so enthusiastic about what he was teaching, it made me into an enthusiastic learner – and when I travelled across Europe in the summer/fall of 2007, a lot of the places I visited were influenced by his recommendation. His lecture-structured classes prepared me for university and the daily news briefs encouraged me to keep an active eye on the world around me.

So thank you, Mr. Young, and to everyone else who’s been a hero in my life.

And just so nobody is left hanging – the woman who approached me – my sister remembers her clearly as one of her favourite and most influential teachers too.