Dream fulfilled
My teaching aspirations and ...35 total reviews
Comment from Mary Vigasin
I know firsthand the damage a cruel teacher can do.
But your story took a heartwarming turn when you found a good role model in the headmaster. You were determined to fulfill a lifelong dream and not be discouraged by a bad teacher.
I do not think as a teacher; you could have received a better or more fulfilling compliment than the admiration that you would be the grandmother every kid would love to have.
Beautifully told story.
Best wishes,
Mary
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2022
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I know firsthand the damage a cruel teacher can do.
But your story took a heartwarming turn when you found a good role model in the headmaster. You were determined to fulfill a lifelong dream and not be discouraged by a bad teacher.
I do not think as a teacher; you could have received a better or more fulfilling compliment than the admiration that you would be the grandmother every kid would love to have.
Beautifully told story.
Best wishes,
Mary
Comment Written 16-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2022
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Thank you Mary. Yes, I have to say that it brought tears to my eyes in the middle of the regular parent-teacher meetings! I felt honoured when she said that the kids thought that. I appreciate very much your lovely review.
Wendy
Comment from John Ciarmello
What a great story and career you had, Wendy. I never understood why someone would pick a teaching profession with children involved and decide teaching cruelty would be their legacy. I guess there are many ways for one to learn from good and evil. Excellent piece, Wendy. Best, JohnC
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2022
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What a great story and career you had, Wendy. I never understood why someone would pick a teaching profession with children involved and decide teaching cruelty would be their legacy. I guess there are many ways for one to learn from good and evil. Excellent piece, Wendy. Best, JohnC
Comment Written 16-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2022
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Thank you so much John. In those days children were expected to be "seen, not heard", but she went beyond that - she was cruel. I still remember her name even. No idea why she would become a teacher, or how long she remained one. I greatly appreciate your review.
Wendy
Comment from Bill Schott
This story, Dream Fulfilled, takes us through your school fays highlights and that teacher comparison we all must make whether we became teachers or not. I wanted to be a great teacher, but I guess I was at least adequate.
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2022
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This story, Dream Fulfilled, takes us through your school fays highlights and that teacher comparison we all must make whether we became teachers or not. I wanted to be a great teacher, but I guess I was at least adequate.
Comment Written 16-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2022
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Thank you Bill. I appreciate your review.
You never know what sort of impact you made - I am sure you were a good teacher, even a great teacher.
Wendy
Comment from karenina
Such a heartwarming account, Wendy! Love that you imagined your colored pencils as your students...
You knew your calling early and did not let the cruelty of your Grade Two teacher discourage you.
I know, from reading your series on teaching, how devoted you were to all of your students...
Particularly those that struggled!
The world needs many more like you, my friend!
Karenina
reply by the author on 16-Jul-2022
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Such a heartwarming account, Wendy! Love that you imagined your colored pencils as your students...
You knew your calling early and did not let the cruelty of your Grade Two teacher discourage you.
I know, from reading your series on teaching, how devoted you were to all of your students...
Particularly those that struggled!
The world needs many more like you, my friend!
Karenina
Comment Written 16-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 16-Jul-2022
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Thank you for such a heart-warming review. I am so glad you enjoyed my story and found it worthy of six stars. many thanks. I'm very moved.
Wendy
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Six stars for your writing, sixty thousand for YOU! (smile)
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Lol. You are so sweet and kind!
Comment from Paul McFarland
You are prying sixes out of me with your teaching stories. Some of our backgrounds are very similar. You stayed at the game a lot longer than I did. The ten years that I taught were ten of the best years of my life.
reply by the author on 15-Jul-2022
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You are prying sixes out of me with your teaching stories. Some of our backgrounds are very similar. You stayed at the game a lot longer than I did. The ten years that I taught were ten of the best years of my life.
Comment Written 15-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 15-Jul-2022
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Thank you so much for an Exceptional review. After this one, I'm giving teaching stories a rest for a little while. But thank you for each six you have given, including this one. They are all very precious and valued. Yes, teaching is very rewarding for those who love it, but for some it is a nightmare - and the kids always know which is which.
Wendy
Wendy
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
I saw cruelty in my school when I was just 8 years old and I have never forgotten it and I can still remember the name of the child who was punished in front of the class, his name was Allan Wilkes and he was publicly hit on his bottom with a slipper and he complained he had a boil there and squealed! It was shocking. After that I saw children being hit over the head in senior school and caned. I am glad that you were a kind teacher Wendy and of course this kind of behaviour is forbidden these days although detentions are given out like confetti at my Granddaughter's school and my eldest Granddaughter was treated unfairly on many occasions and I stepped in by writing a letter to the school on one occasion. A good teacher can control the class with humour and kindness and children are very intuitive to someone's personality. A fine write Wendy, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 15-Jul-2022
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I saw cruelty in my school when I was just 8 years old and I have never forgotten it and I can still remember the name of the child who was punished in front of the class, his name was Allan Wilkes and he was publicly hit on his bottom with a slipper and he complained he had a boil there and squealed! It was shocking. After that I saw children being hit over the head in senior school and caned. I am glad that you were a kind teacher Wendy and of course this kind of behaviour is forbidden these days although detentions are given out like confetti at my Granddaughter's school and my eldest Granddaughter was treated unfairly on many occasions and I stepped in by writing a letter to the school on one occasion. A good teacher can control the class with humour and kindness and children are very intuitive to someone's personality. A fine write Wendy, love Dolly x
Comment Written 15-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 15-Jul-2022
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Thank you for a super review Dolly. You are so right. I can't remember ever needing to give detentions, although I know I spoke to a few kids privately after class a few times. A good teacher should not need to raise a voice or give out detentions. A positive atmosphere and encouraging the desire to learn is normally sufficient. I feel for Allan, and the cruelty of the teacher, and those other teachers is to me shocking and inexcusable.
Wendy
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Very nice story. very well told.
It's a wonder some teachers kept their jobs, but times were different back when. Had I been mistreated, I'm certain I would have packed it in and left. (I was looking for the straw that broke the camel's back for a few years, sad to say).
Best wishes.
reply by the author on 15-Jul-2022
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Very nice story. very well told.
It's a wonder some teachers kept their jobs, but times were different back when. Had I been mistreated, I'm certain I would have packed it in and left. (I was looking for the straw that broke the camel's back for a few years, sad to say).
Best wishes.
Comment Written 15-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 15-Jul-2022
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Thank you Wayne. I enjoyed reading your review, and appreciate it. But you have made good - you are a writer!
Wendy
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If only I got paid for it. Haha
(smiley face here)
Comment from lyenochka
Loved your experience of teaching story, Wendy! And you gave us examples of both negative (your Grade Two teacher) and positive (that Headmaster) teacher models. So is it like in British English when you say "public school" - that it's a school that you pay for? Your parents had a lot of children. Did you all go to "public school"?
In American English, Christian schools are all paid by the parents and are considered "private" schools. Public schools are government-funded and we can never teach about the Bible in those.
reply by the author on 15-Jul-2022
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Loved your experience of teaching story, Wendy! And you gave us examples of both negative (your Grade Two teacher) and positive (that Headmaster) teacher models. So is it like in British English when you say "public school" - that it's a school that you pay for? Your parents had a lot of children. Did you all go to "public school"?
In American English, Christian schools are all paid by the parents and are considered "private" schools. Public schools are government-funded and we can never teach about the Bible in those.
Comment Written 15-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 15-Jul-2022
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Thank you Helen for your super review. No, our system is quite different from the British one in that regard. Our public schools are government funded. Private schools are paid for by parents, including Christian private schools. The one I worked in was a "low-fee paying Christian school", trying o keep it accessible to most. The headmaster of the public school was an anomaly, but back then headmasters were fairly autonomous. At the time I didn't realise how very different he was - I just thought all headmasters must be like that.
Thank you again. I'll add some notes about the public school system.
Wendy
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Oh, thanks for explaining that! What a godly man that headmaster was! And it's shocking that the Lord called him home like that right in his humble serving. If every principal here were like him, we'd have no mass shootings!
Comment from Brett Matthew West
What a cruel thing for that teacher to do.
Seems you did not allow her conduct to negatively influence you as teachers are wont to do.
Interesting contest entry.
reply by the author on 15-Jul-2022
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What a cruel thing for that teacher to do.
Seems you did not allow her conduct to negatively influence you as teachers are wont to do.
Interesting contest entry.
Comment Written 15-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 15-Jul-2022
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Thank you Brett. Yes, you are right. I appreciate your review.
Wendy
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
You have explained very clearly here your childhood dream of being a teacher and how your own teachers influenced your vision of teaching. Much enjoyed. Thank you for supporting this contest. Kate xx
reply by the author on 15-Jul-2022
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You have explained very clearly here your childhood dream of being a teacher and how your own teachers influenced your vision of teaching. Much enjoyed. Thank you for supporting this contest. Kate xx
Comment Written 15-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 15-Jul-2022
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Thank you for a super review Kate. I enjoyed thinking about it, and what impacted me about teaching, both on the receiving side and on the giving side.
Wendy