At times things that my children go through
cause me to reflect back upon my own experience. Everyone, I think, has had a teacher that
changes the course that we were heading.
Those teachers may not have been the top of the evaluation charts but
they made our lives better. Sometimes we
forget that kids have a lot to face on a daily basis and many challenges to
overcome. They live with their inner
voice telling them that they aren’t as good, that they aren’t very smart, that
they are incapable socially or scholastically.
Whatever the inner voice is saying, there are times in which someone can
make a difference for them because they see them for the brilliance that is in
them. Teachers like that, appreciate
what makes kids special even when others are too busy to see it.
As a mom there have been times when I send my
child out the door and get on my knees for them. I pray that they will be watched over and
looked out for. I pray that the hardships
that I have been made aware of will diminish because someone will be insightful
enough to save them. And my prayers have
been answered. Most often it has been a
teacher. I am not sure if teachers
realize that they have the potential to save children from the chaos of the
world. Currently one of my children has
a teacher that allows this child to be exactly who they are. And because of that it has made me think
back.
My elementary school years were interesting
because there was a lot I was dealing with and I am unable to explain all of it
but I wanted to share a piece.
Kindergarten through 2nd grade I was partially deaf and
couldn’t see really well. My parents
wanted my mind to have all that school had to offer so they put me into a French
immersion program. I’m sure that they
thought and saw my potential and knew I could do it, but my hearing issues and
sight problems hadn’t been made aware to them yet. It wasn’t until I was in 2nd grade
when my mom sat down to chat with me and I told her it was difficult to hear
the teacher when she turned and faced the chalk board. Upon further investigating I told her it was
difficult to hear because I couldn’t see her lips. My mom was initially confused… Why would
seeing her lips make it hard to hear?... and then it all clicked. I was taken to the doctor and a while later
had an operation that would give me the ability to hear. In that same conversation I expressed the
difficulty to see both up close and far way.
So yes, I was both near sighted and far sighted so bifocals, at the
young age of 7, would become my friend.
How I had made it this far still baffles my
mind. I had decided that I was stupid
and now I was also a dork. This
combination was a sad reality. I was way
behind the others in my class and I was doing the best I could but the dots
were not connecting in my brain. 2 years
later my parents decided that it was time to take me out of French immersion. But in my mind I had resolved that it was too
late, I was a lost cause. And then I was
transferred into Mrs. Turner’s class.
She was a tall black lady who could be viewed to some as
intimidating. She was a no nonsense kind
of teacher but I knew what her expectations were and I feared that I would fall
short. She however, didn’t let that
inner voice that I had gotten so used to, take over. She saw my potential. She had confidence in me and I knew that she
loved me… and I loved her. Thinking back
on it now brings tears to my eyes. That
was my most successful year; not because I had the best grades of the class,
not because I skyrocketed in expanding my mind to the wonders of learning but
because it was the year that I had a teacher that believed in me and saw me for
who I was. Because of this I began to
grow with in me the self confidence that I needed. It was because of Mrs. Turner that I learned
to never give up. I learned that hard
work feels good. I don’t know if Mrs.
Turner is still around. I don’t know if
she was ever given any awards or praise for the teacher she was but I wish I
could let her or her children, see into my life a little so she or they would
know that she has not only changed my course but generations. I will pay it forward with my children and
hopefully they too will with theirs.
Thank you Mrs. Turner of Wes Hosford Elementary School in Sherwood Park
Canada!
