My favorite teacher from elementary
school was Mrs. Moats -- the Kindergarten teacher at Woodfill. Everyone
liked her because if someone had a loose tooth, then all you had to do was
go to Mrs. Moats. She would give the student a couple of pieces of bubble
gum to chew, and out would come the tooth. It was the only sanctioned use of
gum in school that I know of. Sadly she passed this year (2003).
A favorite of many in the Eight grade was Miss Porter.
She taught American History. One big reason I liked her is she got me
through my only bout with summer school (I eventually graduated with a 3.1
GPA). Another reason I liked her was her constant use of hand gestures as
she talked. What was amazing is that every gesture she made exactly matched
what she was talking about.
Mrs. Haggard taught biology (Sophomore and Senior
level courses). She was the first teacher who made me feel I was worth
something as a student. I had never been a teacher's pet before this
tenth-grade class, and I liked it (a lot). I never ran with the popular
cliques (they tended to be the teachers' pets because they came from the
wealthy part of town). My new status grated on the cliques. I have no idea
why I was so good at biology. I liked it and it came easily. Mrs. Haggard
believed I should be a doctor. The rest of the Science department thought I
should be a doctor. My parents thought I should be a doctor. Even for two
months in college, I thought I should be a doctor. However, I became a
computer geek like I wanted to anyway. (See
how guidance counselors can mess up your life.)
My all-time favorite teacher is Mr. Norman Yonce --
Senior English. I attribute my success as a computer consultant to him. "How
does an English teacher make a techno-geek a success?" you ask. Well,
technology plays a minor role in being a computer consultant. The big skill
is communication. Especially, written communication.
Consultancy involves giving your opinion, and
convincing your client to accept that opinion. Mr. Yonce taught me a
philosophy that I
have adopted as my own, and full belief in this philosophy is what enables
me to convince my clients to accept my opinions. He also convinced me that
critical writing skills are essential to exercising this philosophy.
In 1993 I wrote a letter to Mr. Yonce in which I
attributed my success to him, and I thanked him. He responded in a
sad letter.
If you feel there is no such think as the dumbing down of
America, then I hope Mr. Yonce's letter gives you pause to rethink your
opinion.
We also played some great practical jokes on him.
One of which
almost caused us not to graduate with the rest of our class.
