Sometimes, I think of them–those teachers who tried to instill a love of learning in the heads of high school students several decades ago. I remember many of them; in particular, the English teachers.
Two teachers come to mind. Mrs. Duncan taught English to the third year students at Central High. She was a no-nonsense, highly knowledgeable and inspirational woman whose dedication to the works of Edgar Allen Poe was legendary. While in her class, I memorized at least part of The Raven. Those lines have never left me. I learned to respect and admire the genius of Poe even though his short stories sent shivers down my spine.
Miss Katherine Simmons taught senior English. She was determined that her students should memorize poems–whole bunches of poems. Seems to me that she graded us on the number of lines learned. This must have been a challenge for her because many of the students, boys especially, had zero interest in memorizing anything, much less poetry.
At the time, all those years ago, I didn’t fully appreciate the amazing opportunity of so many doors to learning that they opened to me. Miss Simmons would be pleased, I think, to know that I’ve continued the habit of memorization and found it to be hugely rewarding.
So, hats off to those long-ago teachers who gave their all trying to inspire teenagers to value the rewards of learning. And, a big thank-you for leaving me richer for having sat in their classes.
They obviously did a good job, enough for you to remember them and what they taught!
I think a good part of what they taught me, actually “stuck” and I enjoy remembering it all these years later.