The Influence of Teachers and Appreciation of Them

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4 years ago

As I understand it, today is Teacher Appreciation Week here in the United States and today in particular is National Teachers Day in recognition and celebration of teachers. I for one can truthfully say that I never had a bad teacher, I look back and hold them all is high esteem and with such appreciation.

My First Teacher

When I was young (many years ago since I am now unashamedly 72!) I was so looking forward to beginning school. More than anything else I wanted to learn to read and write. My first grade teacher, Mrs. Vaughn taught me both and I was thrilled at how quickly it happened. It laid a solid foundation for the years that would follow plus the reading and writing became very integral to my careers. One of the greatest compliments I ever received came one Sunday after I had spoken at a local church. A lawyer I knew was in the crowd and came up afterwards to say he considered me to be a wordsmith. That was something I always strove for and hopefully it was true, If so, it happened because of Mrs. Vaughn and the teachers that followed and helped me develop a degree of skills.

The Ones Who Followed

This morning I began to think of those foundtional teachers and decided to see if I could find one of them and give her a call. I wanted to express my appreciation. I knew that some of them are already deceased but there was one I saw a few years back who still was very spry and active. She was my fifth grade teacher and then moved up to the sixth grade so I had her for two years in a row.

Mrs. Hawley

I did not know if she was still living but googled her and found her name and a phone number. I called to see if it was truly her and indeed it was. She is very well and an energetic 85. We had a delightful conversation as I shared my appreciation of her and all she taught me. We also talked about some of my classmates. She recalled so many names and mentioned a couple of them who had come to visit her recently. What a great time we had!

The Formal Teachers

Now these I have spoken of were "formal" teachers. We sat in ordered fashion in classrooms, approached different subjects, and we were held accountable for what was being taught. However, our lives are also influenced by "informal" teachers....people who simply "know stuff" and teach us, though they might not even know that we are learning from them,

The Informal Teachers

I'm a musician too and as it happened there were a lot of us learning to play the guitar at the same time in my neighborhood. We listened, shared, and watched one another. Occasionally, we'd gather and some new guy would show up that knew more than the rest of us, and we'd learn from them. I remember this guy named Jackie being with us one day and he was playing the Chuck Berry song, "Memphis". We watched him with incredible intent, so much so that by the time we got back together again we were all playing "Memphis".

That was the only time Jackie was there hanging out with us but he taught and imparted to us in an informal manner.

Each Of Us Is An Informal Teacher

Some of us my have been or are "formal teachers". At some point we found that we had a time and place designated to teacher others. However, apart from those formal settings we each are informal teachers. We all have knowledge and abilities that we impart to others simply as they hang around us.

I've always admired mechanically minded people though personally I do not fit the bill. I tell people that if you give me a hammer and screwdriver, I'm a dangerous person! However, I have a good friend named Ed that is a carpenter and also mechanically inclined. I watch and appreciate his expertise and amazingly I now know how to do some things that I learned from watching him. He taught me in a very informal but meaningful way.

The Bottom Line

During this Teacher Appreciation Week think about those who taught you and helped you become what you are. If they are in proximity let them know of the influence they have had on you. They will appreciate it and so will you.
Recognize that you too have worth as a teacher and likely someone is paying attention to you and learning from you, even though you may not know it. You know how to drive a nail, repair a light switch, cook a biscuit, sew a hem. and on and on it goes.

And if you get a chance, and you can, teach someone to play "Memphis". In later years I ended up on stages playing that tune because of one interaction with Jackie. You never know the effect your informal teaching and influence can have. Each of us have much to share, we all need one another, and this world needs us.

Kind regards, friends.

David Lewis