Something a teacher has said that you remember to this day.

[Californiaman]

Duane, I've had several students who were able to graduate at the end of their junior year.  I think the best was one of my juniors was so caught up in the gang life that he was on the verge of falling headlong into that lifestyle.  After working with him consistently and after days of encouragement he started to move away from the gangs and the street life.  He became the first person in his family to graduate high school.  He enrolled in the local jr. college and is now an auto mechanic.

Sometimes a little encouragement and persistence pays off. 

So my question to you is, did you stick around for your senior year? Or did you graduate early?

[duane v]

9 minutes ago, Californiaman said:

Duane, I've had several students who were able to graduate at the end of their junior year.  I think the best was one of my juniors was so caught up in the gang life that he was on the verge of falling headlong into that lifestyle.  After working with him consistently and after days of encouragement he started to move away from the gangs and the street life.  He became the first person in his family to graduate high school.  He enrolled in the local jr. college and is now an auto mechanic.

Sometimes a little encouragement and persistence pays off. 

So my question to you is, did you stick around for your senior year? Or did you graduate early?

Great story CaliMan!!!!

I graduated early, got my own apartment and off to be be a rock star. lol.

To me other than marching band, high school was boring and I never had a girl friend in high school, so there was no emotional attachment to make me want to stay and hang out another year.

[duane v]

There was one professor in our Thermal Dynamics course that rang true: He told all of us the below:

"Most of you will have the ability to learn, but only 1/3 of you will have the ability to work."

I see more of the above now than ever in my long career.

[Californiaman]

I took a mythology course once.  The professor wanted us all to choose a mythological figure who we would be called by in the class.  Since Californiaman is close to the beginning of the alphabet I hoped nobody would take the name I was hoping for.

When he called my name I was stoked I got to pick the name I wanted.  I told him and the rest of the class, "Ulysses". 

His reply was, "Clever choice."  Ulysses, is the Roman name for the Greek mythological character, Odysseus, one of the cleverest characters of the ancient world.

We were told that when he takes roll for the next time we meet that we needed to quote our character in some meaningful way that relates to our character.

The next time we met, I was ready when he called my name. I couldn't wait because it was such a classic quote.

"How my naked ears were tortured by the sirens sweetly singing."

That lit him up. "Oh yes! Cream.  Of course. Very Clever."

Edited April 23 by Californiaman

[gearbasher]

2 hours ago, duane v said:

I'm not sure if a high school counselor is considered a teacher, but her words will always ring clearly.

"Duane, you will have enough credits to graduate high school at the end of your junior year."

I graduated H.S. early. Started college when I was 16. It was the biggest mistake of my life. I was too young for college and almost flunked out the first year. But, after that the rest was a breeze.

[duane v]

1 hour ago, gearbasher said:

I graduated H.S. early. Started college when I was 16. It was the biggest mistake of my life. I was too young for college and almost flunked out the first year. But, after that the rest was a breeze.

My mom was so upset I didn't go to college directly out high school, and I probably would have done well, but my focus was becoming a rock star, and I didn't see how an Engineering Degree (at that time) would contribute to my initial goal..... Although it did work out great for Tom Scholz. 

[sparquelito]

20 hours ago, duane v said:

I'm not sure if a high school counselor is considered a teacher, but her words will always ring clearly.

"Duane, you will have enough credits to graduate high school at the end of your junior year."

I had the opposite situation. 
I barely had the credits to graduate in my senior year. 

Didn't enjoy high school at all.  In fact I barely tolerated it. 
We were pretty poor, so I spent all my time at my job as a 3rd Manager at Hardee's. 
Extra work house meant extra money, and all of us kids helped our mom to pay the mortgage and utility bills. 

I made good grades in the classes I enjoyed, and flunked the classes that didn't inspire me. 
I made A's in Jr ROTC, English, Biology, History, Chemistry, etc. But math was another story. 
My Geometry teacher was bored, and hanging on for retirement.  She put me right to sleep. 
My Algebra teacher was a narrow minded, dogmatic, angry person, and I literally couldn't understand a word he said. 

I don't mean to say that he spoke in concepts that were beyond my comprehension. 
I mean to say that he spoke in a form of southern colloquial English that was unintelligible to me. 
He may as  well have had a mouthful of marbles for it mattered to me. 

One day early in my senior year in high school, a teacher handed me a note, telling me to report to the Principal's office. 
I left class and wandered the halls, looking for the Principal's office. I had no idea where it was, as I had never been in trouble, and had never the opportunity to visit there. 

Some girl coming in from the smoke break area pointed me in the right direction and I reported to some secretary lady. 
She ushered me into a Counselor's office directly. 

"John, I called you in here today because you lack the math credits to graduate with your class this year."

"Wait, that can't be. I attended summer school just to get ahead. I have taken all kinds of math since I came to this school."

"Yes, but you flunked most of those math classes. And Mister Fleming says that you regularly sleep through his Algebra II class, which you have failed out of more than once."

"Well, this is not good. What can I do to graduate and get myself out of this place?"

The counselor smiled.  He sensed correctly that I detested the high school, and wanted out of there. 

"It's actually quite easy. You are about to finish the first Semester and go into the 2nd and last Semester of your senior year.  I'm signing you up for Math 101. It's basic math aimed at Sophomore students, and I think you'll do just fine. Complete that class, and you will have enough credits to graduate with your class."

"Outstanding. Thank you, sir."
I shook his hand and went on my way. 

Sure enough, Math 101 was great. 
The teacher was brand new to the school, as he was fresh out of college, and just getting his feet under him. 

His name was Cletus Ray Faulk, and he was a great fellow. 
Lean, blonde haired, and wearing black horn rimmed glasses, he was pleasant, articulate, and possessing of a great sense of humor. 

I was seated in the middle of his class, among a small number of Sophomores, and a larger number of Seniors who, like me, needed that one math credit to graduate. Those guys were all football players, and barely fit in their school desks. 

I caught fire, and really loved the class. 
In short order, I was a teacher's assistant, and I spent time after class, tutoring other kids who weren't catching on so well. 
It was a great time, and one of my few positive memories of the high school experience. 

I graduated of course, and ended up joining the Army, and flying helicopters. 
The high math that I later took in college was a breeze to me, as I was blessed with one the best and most entertaining instructors I have ever known, Embry Riddle's Dr. Byrd. 

I spent most of my Army career as an Instructor Pilot, and I can honestly say that I turned out to be a really good teacher.
I had learned the lessons that Dr Byrd, Mr. Faulk, and my Jr High school home room teacher, Ms. Susan Ray taught me;
Make learning challenging but fun. 
Maintain high standards, but keep a sense of humor about yourself. 
No one single approach/method works for all students. Tailor your instruction toward each student's unique strengths and weaknesses. 
and, 
Aim for the highest levels of learning, not just "rote memorization and whatever it takes to pass the next test". 

Anyway. 
I'm gonna shut up now. 

😐

[GuitarsAnn]

Get the hell out of my class.   Algebra teacher. I later excelled in math. Just needed a good teacher.

[duane v]

Sorry to hear that, but I think teachers (especially in todays environment) are at such a disadvantage because teachers are now baby sitters, and have to deal with disconnected parents that spend most of their time with their faces planted in their iPhones, when they should be reading to their kids and participating in their school assignments.... and the reality is generally kids and teenagers are shitheads... In my generation while in school I've experienced many disruptive kids.

My mom especially, taught us that our function while at school was not to critique the teachers, but to contextualize what the books would show us, and if we needed clarity you raise your hand to get the needed assistance. 

[Californiaman]

But I love teaching and seeing students become life-long learners.  Students who go on and make something productive out of their lives.  When it goes right and it's does more times than not, it's a rewarding experience. Especially years later when a former student says thank you.  You had an impact on me.

Edited April 25 by Californiaman
Rant Not Necessary