(Virtually) Hug a Teacher Today

Today is World Teachers Day.

As I wrote in my last post about my childhood, there were a few teachers that have stuck in my brain even after all these years. I have never forgotten them for many reasons. But, mostly it’s because they made learning fun and they seemed to care about all of their students.

In elementary school my 4th grade teacher was Mrs. Hayes, and she was kind, sweet, and I thought of her as a motherly type. She taught without raising her voice and she still had control of the class.

I had a few teachers in high school who I enjoyed – and who I thought were awesome with students. Mr. Rorbough (sp?) was the band director and the band room was my favorite place to hang out. I was a band nerd throughout my school years. I also loved our sweet French teacher. I can’t remember her name but I see her face. And, then Mr. Fisher, who was a new teacher when I took his class for Biology. My girlfriend Paula and I had fun in that class, that included lab work – eeek!, and I think Mr. Fisher ‘sometimes’ got a kick out of us two.

In college one of my favorite professors was Dr. Bauer, who taught Art History. I loved that class! He had two big screens and he would put up photos of art – and talk about the time, the painters and sculptures, the reasons for certainly things in the paintings, etc. I found it fascinating. He turned me on to art history so much that I later volunteered on Saturdays at the Baltimore Museum of Art. I worked in the gift shop, but it was fun to be in that environment.

I also want to mention Dr. John McKerron, at Towson, who was head of the Communications Department and the advisor to the radio station On campus WCVT. I hung out there with other communications friends. I took a few classes from Dr. McKerron, including a Mini-master on the science of broadcasting, which normally I would not have found interesting. I think that’s why I took it in January as a mini-mester . Just to get it over with in one month! But, I remember much from the class – and his demeanor made learning a ‘boring’ subject fun.

Teachers are a special breed. They work for the love of children and young adults, and they know that to have opportunities in life, a good education and foundation is a must. They teach because it brings them fulfillment. Certainly it does not make them rich. They take continual education along the way, and they use their own money to buy classroom supplies. They work hours at home, Putting in time beyond the normal ‘work day’ which they don’t get extra pay for. They do it all for the love of children and young adults.

Lately we have learned that teachers have to be very flexible and now most are doing some of their teaching virtually, teaching through Zoom. I’m sure it’s nothing any of them thought they would be doing when they signed up for the job. But, they care – and they will do whatever it takes.

So…. On this World Teachers Day, I’d like to say: thank you, thank you, thank you to teachers! I know some as friends, and I know some as my daughters’ teachers, and I even know a few as family members. Their hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed, and today we especially thank you!!