It's Teacher Appreciation Day During Teacher Appreciation Week - Bravo and Well Done!

Today is "Teacher Appreciation Day" and that made me think through the many teachers I've had over the years, many of whom I remember fondly even now, decades after I last learned from them. If you're a teacher, bravo and well done. It's a hard task at times, but when performed well, you can leave a lasting imprint. But think back today to a favorite teacher you had. Was it in High School or College? Perhaps it was in Middle School or even back in Grammar School. For that period of a few months, that person tried to instill lessons into you that you still carry with you today and memories that still linger to inspire you. 

Apparently it's Teacher Appreciation Week, but in that week 
is today - Teacher Appreciation Day. I've been fortunate to 
have had several teachers who influenced my life in very 
positive ways. I hope you also had a chance to have at 
least one stellar educator in yours. 

Of course there were also teachers who weren't so great. There were teachers who bullied or belittled, who turned a deaf ear to the needs or questions of their students, and who generally only occupied a chair and collected a paycheck. I'm sure most of you have had at least one of those teachers as well. But think on those teachers also, today, and thumb your nose at them. You turned out great despite their poor skills (although academically you might not have recovered your footing after being in their classroom). 

It is inevitable that sometime in a child's 
school time, they will come across at least 
one bad teacher - one who doesn't really 
care about the students in their care. 

There are other teachers who are not in a classroom situation - teachers in your home, teachers among spiritual leaders and guides, and teachers whom you run into by chance. Sometimes these extra-curricular teachers are the best ones and the ones we remember the most. 

One of the more common teachers outside of the classroom 
are music teachers and physical education coaches/trainers. 
I usually interacted with music teachers in my long history 
of instrumental lessons on piano, flute and cello. These 
teachers also were either good or bad. The one bad ones 
I had affected me negatively for years to come. 

No matter the teacher, you, as a person, are a reflection of the influencers of your life both good and bad. The old saying of "No person is an island" (OK, the expression says "man" not "person", but screw that) - is absolutely correct. Although the teachers and influencers of your early life are your parents and other immediate relations, when you branched out into school, the field became more crowded, and as you matured, your influencers began filling the auditorium of your life. 

Never forget that children really want to learn - about 
themselves, their country and their world. This is a 
classroom in Togo where just over half the girls over 
age 15 can read, but 79% of the boys can. This kind 
of disparate education is common in the world, and 
often education is only available to kids whose parents 
have enough money to send them to school, and who 
can spare them from the work at home. All too 
often education is sacrificed to putting the child to 
work and earn a little extra money for food. 

So as you think back on teachers and those people who have helped you to make your life as it is today, and don't forget that a teacher doesn't have to be in a classroom. But also think back on those who were in your classrooms and remember them today. The good ones deserve to be remembered and celebrated because they deserve it, the bad ones can remain in the trash-bin of your mind along with other failures. Have an excellent day, I'm off to the pool and a lovely swim. I'll be back tomorrow.