"Every person in this chamber can point to a teacher who changed the trajectory of their lives." ~Barack Obama (source)Not me.
My teachers were universally mediocre. I can think of a few that were impediments to my life, but not a single one who was an inspiration, or even useful.
The people who made a difference in my life were poets, artists, and holy men. Those are the people who lifted me up; all my teachers ever did was drag me down.
I don't think my experience is unique.
Really, and none of those teachers introduced you to those "poets, artists, and holy men"?
ReplyDeleteIt was primarily my English teachers who introduced me to great writers, philosophers, who, in turn, led me to "holy men."
Actually, I credit Roger Ebert for my interest in literature. I realized that the way he critiqued movies was the way I *should* have been taught English to begin with. It's because of him that I went back years later and began revisiting the classics.
ReplyDeleteMy teachers are the reason I *avoided* them for so very long. They just ruined it for me.
That is unfortunate that you had that experience, Thomas. I can only tell you that yours was not a universal experience but I also don't think that you were completely alone in your antipathy... my darling brother dropped out of school and the teachers played a not-so-insignificant role in that decision...
ReplyDeleteI don't think the teachers in the educational system 'ruined' it for me--I think I wasn't 'ready'. I'm of the belief that when I'm ready, the 'teacher' shows up. That's happened again and again and again for me. I just celebrate that I got around TO appreciating those things.
ReplyDelete