This week’s forum had me thinking hard about previous teachers I have had
throughout my life. Initially I was thinking my second-grade teacher in Catholic
school was the worst teacher I ever had because I didn’t know if I was
comfortable sharing a very personal story. The questions posed this week ended
up being turned into something very personal for me. It is not something I like to
talk about or even remember because it was a very difficult time in my life. When
I was in fourth grade (1987) my parents decided it was best for them to divorce.
At the age of seven I took this extremely hard, and it really messed me up
emotionally. My fourth-grade teacher, Ms. Perrin, was horrible! She did not
understand or care to understand what was going on with me and how it was
affecting my education. My grades were less than good, I found it impossible to
sit in class, I was constantly emotional, and I had attempted to flee from school
many times. My parents ended up sending me to therapy in a residential facility in
another state.
After many months I returned to class, and it was quite awkward and still my
teacher was less than caring or even compassionate regarding the issues I was
dealing with. Based off Bernstein et al (2019) and their “Seven Principles of
Effective Teaching” I would say her behavior or lack thereof relates to #1,
“Encourage Student–Faculty Contact. Frequent and fruitful contact between
students and faculty inside and outside the classroom is important for
establishing and maintaining rapport and enhancing students’ motivation and
involvement in the learning process. When students know that their teacher cares
about their progress, they are more likely to persist at learning tasks, even when
the tasks are difficult. Further, the experience of getting to know at least a few
teachers as individuals can enhance students’ intellectual and emotional
commitment to learning and may increase the likelihood that they will stay in
school.”
Fast forward to the following year when I was in fifth grade, and I ended up
getting the most amazing teacher. Mrs. Katers was absolutely wonderful and
caring; she took time to meet at my dad’s house with me and discuss what I was
going through and how she could help me so I could achieve my educational
goals. Her behavior most definitely relates to Bernstein et all (2019) principle #1,
just the opposite of how Ms. Perrin related to the same principle. All Ms. Perrin
needed to do was understand that there were issues going on in my life that I
could not understand nor control, and it was affecting every aspect of my life
including my school life. She was honestly not a nice teacher; I mean her
personality was cold. Perhaps teaching was not the best career for her to get into.
Regardless it is always important for us to do our best work possible. God is
always watching over us, His children, and how we treat others. A little empathy
from a teacher can go a long way, especially for a seven-year-old who is
depressed, emotional, and does not understand why her family is breaking apart.
This reminds of Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the
Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance
as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
