Who is the best teacher you ever had? And why?

[Pat Coyle]

Think of all the lessons you've learned in your life, both inside and outside the classroom. Are you there? OK. Now see if you can think of the one person who has taught you more than anyone else. We're not asking about QUANTITY of fact. Rather, we want to know who taught you the most useful things you know? This person could be a school teacher, or a parent or even one of your children.

Who has taught you the most? Who has imparted the most valuable wisdom to you? Who's voice is in your head? What difference has this learning made in your life? And can you describe how he or she did it? What was it about the teacher or situation or yourself that made for the effecive combination? Why was this person able to have such a profound impact on you and your life? Please share your thoughts here.

[Amelia Miller]

I had some really great teachers along the way who cared and taught me very much - but something they all had in common was drawing a direct and unambiguous correlation between "success" and happiness, and success in only the most narrow sense. My teachers would have me believe that each assignment, paper or exam was the single determining factor of whether or not I would get into college, which of course was THE ULTIMATE objective in life.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big proponent of higher education and enjoyed my years in college. But largely because I was finally able to relax and enjoy the ride by the time I got there, something that was NOT possible before. And all because of a brief exchange with my dad late one evening during my senior year.

I sat at my computer at 4:00 a.m., eyes bloodshot and skin crawling, watching the minutes tick away before I had to print my essay and dash back to school. I had the weight of the world on my shoulders.

"What are you doing?" he asked from behind me, groggy and confused. I burst into tears and through sobs explained that I had to finish this paper, and it had to be perfect because if it wasn't, I was going to get - gasp - a D in the class.

"So?" he asked.

"Well...I can't get a D, right?"

"Twenty years from now when you're done with school, have a job, maybe a family, are you going to care or even remember getting a D in high school Physics?"

"Probably not?"

He nodded. "Now go to bed."

My teachers were focused on achievement and I cannot begrudge them that. But I am grateful to have had that voice of reason to remind me that physical health and mental sanity are equally important!