Who was your favourite teacher? I would wager that you remember more about their ways than about the subject material they taught. You might recall with appreciation how they supported you with gentle encouragement. In fact, “Nine-tenths of education is encouragement", states the 19th century , French novelist and writer, Antoine French.
As an educator myself, I recall my grade twelve biology teacher. She modelled for me the necessity of being an enthusiastic teacher. Although she had taught certain lessons numerous times, she still enthusiastically joined us in the wonders as we dissected our first earthworm.
My biology teacher must have seen in me the potential educator. She placed her trust in me to teach her biology class when she was confined to our care centre with pleurisy. I was her substitute teacher.
“Nine tenths of education is encouragement ”
Each evening after supper in the dining room I would head to her temporary room in the infirmary. At her bedside on second floor, I would receive my one-to-one lesson on blood vessels, heart valves and all things related to the functioning of the human circulatory system. The next morning, buoyed up by the confidence she placed in me, I would bravery pass on my newly acquired knowledge to my peers.
The one advantage Sister gave me, the student teacher, was a handwritten note from her to read to my classmates. The note clearly stated that we were responsible for the unit on the circulatory system, and on her return to class, we could expect a test!
World Teachers Day on October 5th offers us an opportunity to reflect back on our school days and remember that particular teacher or hopefully teachers who offered us support through encouragement that impacted our lives.
Let us celebrate World Teachers Day as Teacher Appreciation Day.
-Sister Nancy Wales, CSJ