April 6, 2004

• Learn.

  
  

  

  
  

  I think I look teacher-y in this picture. It’s a funny thing, that- if anyone had told me three years ago that I’d be hanging around little kids this much, actually making a dent in some of their intellects and showing them how to do or make something, I would have thought they had gone crazy. But there I am, looking the part. When did I grow up all of a sudden? I’ve actually been known to sternly send people to the Office For Disrupting My Class. I have a special Teacher-Voice I use when I want things Done. And I find divine pleasure in seeing one of the kiddoes learn something they’ve never known before. Today one of the littler ones stopped by my room after school to say ‘bye for the day, and asked where I went to sleep at night; as if I never left the art room, or went grocery shopping, or did anything other than dole out paint and glitter. It’s an absolute scandal when I’m spotted by one of them up the street from school on the weekend. Because teachers don’t do ordinary things, do you remember that? When you are small, we are superbeings to you, we bestow little classroom mercies on the studious and inflict our wrath on the unruly, we are the final word, we are a wealth of knowledge.

  
  

  I try to remember what it was like to be a kid, and how I percieved grownups, especially at school. They were often absolute tyrants. But I remember some teachers who were different, and made an impact on my life. I try to draw from the things they did. I’ve stolen plenty of lesson plans from recollections of my third-grade art teacher, remembering the things my young hands liked to make back then, or what I liked thinking about, or the things I wanted. She encouraged me, and made me want to know more. I remember the teachers who were kind and patient, or funny, who gave a little leeway or extra help, or teased us and then joked about their own failings. The ones who defied the rules a little bit, brought the class outside on nice days, or taught while perched cross legged on a desk. The teachers who wore crazy clothes, or gave everyone a goofy nickname.  Who realized when it was a bad day, and forgave missing homework without a word; those who started conversations and debates, who stayed after class to help out, who joined in games at recess. Who remembered what it is to be a kid, and showed us how to be good grownups.  Those are the ones i remember. I hope my kids will think of me that way, someday.

  
  

  So thank you, to my teachers:

  
  

  Mrs. Wheeler, Mrs. Buteau, Mrs. Hosmer, Mr. Anastopoulis, Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Bets, Mrs. McKay, Mr. Nacke, and Mrs. Washburn. 

  • 12:35 am
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