As a rule we should never stop learning. No matter what age we do things and see things that strengthen our minds and souls in different ways. When in school you sometimes get the impression that the only reason teachers are in your life is to torture you with tasks and to be unkind. I had teachers I remember from my childhood and my perspective at that time was some of them were mean and hateful; now I look back and there was a purpose for the techniques they themselves learn and used to teach, it was a sign of those times and the times before me that molded the way they taught and the perspectives of that time. I guess this is a sign of maturity and wisdom.
Many educators have made many impressions throughout my life. Many educators made impressions in my eyes when my children were in school. It was not only a cultural shock moving to the Midwest from the West but some of the teachings at the time brought back those unkind times of my years in school.
When my son started middle school not only was it tough being an outsider trying to fit in but dealing with several different personalities of long term educators was a challenge for both of us. One of his teachers cultivated his love of music. He saw something in him that directed him into singing and show choir throughout middle and high school. Some of his other teachers during his time in middle and high school made it known that they thought enough time wasn't spent on the basics of which at the time he had more difficulty with than the arts and sports aspects. Many conferences with these teachers throughout the year pushed my frustration level with educators to my limits.
Over the last couple weeks I have run into almost all of his middle school teachers at events in and around town. They are all retired now, enjoying life but I am sure have those special "teaching" moments with former students and their children.
I see his music teacher all to frequently and he asks about him and always says "I can't believe he is married and has children of his own". Usually the next question is "do they enjoy music too?". Oh yes, I am sure he will have at least one little entertainer in his family.
I see another of his teachers at the grocery store almost each week. She had no children and her husband passed away a couple years ago. On a recent occasion I was doing a quick purchase and had my oldest granddaughter with me. It was a pretty packed store and lots of families with small children were in toe with parents. One young woman had two small children with her that were obviously not too happy to be out in the heat and shopping with Mom. One would start screaming, then the other started crying. You could hear it from one end of the store to another. We all hope and pray we don't have too many of those shopping trips, but we do. We picked up our items and were approaching check out, when the teacher stopped behind us. She never acknowledged me but kept looking at my granddaughter quietly standing next to the grocery basket. Don't get me wrong she is tall for her age and can sometimes be mature for her age and also can act younger than her age. She assisted putting our purchases on the checkout and remained quiet throughout. As we finished and started bagging our groceries, the teacher stepped up along side of my granddaughter (mind you also this teacher is around her height, my granddaughter sometimes has been mistaken for at least two years older than she is). To my surprise, the next words that came out of the teacher's mouth, made me smile.
"I have been watching you in the store, you have been so nice for your mother". "You haven't created a scene like those two children have for their mother". My granddaughter didn't say a word just nodded her head to her. I am pretty sure that the teacher did not recognize me and I also didn't correct her in that I am her grandmother but I so wanted to make it known that I wasn't her mother but was a parent to one of her former students and bring to her attention how mean she had been during his time with her but, in my infinite wisdom I chose not too. Why?
Well even educators change throughout the years. They retire, they move on and maybe in her years of teaching young minds, not all of them came out like she wanted them too. Many she taught didn't succeed in life even after the lessons she taught them. Other students who she thought might never succeed, in fact did and rather well I might add.
Every human being gets life lessons, we teach, we learn and we grow along the way. We just took the compliment and walked out of the store with the screaming still in our ears.
