In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years. -Jacques Barzun
A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. -Henry Brooks Adams
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. -William Arthur Ward
So I am a teacher. But after today I don't think I want to be called "teacher" again. Ever. For some reason it is too difficult for my students to remember that my name is "Miss Sorenson." OK. I can live with that. I've gotten used to being called "teacher." I respond to "teacher." What drives me crazy is when one "teacher" to get my attention isn't enough. Then I hear "teacher...teacher...teacher...teacher..." until I respond. Sometimes this "teacher" is accompanied by a pat. That is the only thing that makes it worse. That's a lie. There is one thing that makes it even worse. It is the student who yells "teacher" to get my attention and then has nothing to say.
I am a teacher but please don't call me "teacher." I may punch you in the face.
Someday, Kristi, it's gonna be "mommy". I know it doesn't SOUND horrible right now, but when you're on an important phone call and you vaguely hear "Mom?" and then you subconsciously hear "Moooo-ooom?!" Then, seemingly out of nowhere, and (kind of) completely unprovoked you hear "Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom".
ReplyDeleteExcept for me it's "Dad", but you know what I'm saying.
I distinctly remember being in second grade and calling Mrs. Godwin "teacher" and getting a look. That was the last time I ever did that.
ReplyDeleteI swear our bishop too that William Arthur Ward quote and turned it into a mini lesson at our last ward council. I took notes on it. It was real good.
I'm going to start saying "Roommate roommate roommate" any time I want to get your attention....that should be a fun game :)
ReplyDeleteOne more thing...would it be okay if the kids said "Hey teacher..." in their Buster voice?
ReplyDeleteAs Cameron mentioned, you will just be more prepared for the "Mom" on repeat.
ReplyDeleteI would pay good money to actually see you punch someone in the face.
i can't believe i never called you "teacher" until now! i was totally one of those kids who said teacher. i know they probably liked it better when i called them by name, but i think one of the first things i realized as a student was that i could call them the same designation for the next 12 years.
ReplyDeletepossibly the rudest kid i ever saw was after i graduated and i went back to high school to talk to one of my teachers. he wasn't there, but i talked to his substitute on when he'd be by and in the middle of the conversation this kid who wanted something came up between us and snapped his fingers in her face.
Even as a brat, I think I somehow had a sense of propriety and never called my teacher "teacher." Never.
ReplyDeleteI'm reminded of a comment made by another primary ed teacher friend of mine. "On some days I'd rather eat the kids than teach them."
She's also a vegetarian.
I have utmost admiration for what you do. I could never handle it.
I am still waiting to see you punch somebody in the face! Can i have a vote on who it gets to be?
ReplyDeleteI once called my teacher by his first name. He calmly walked past me and answered the phone call that was for him and then quietly turned to me and said "never do that again." That scared me. From then on it was Mr. or Miss to any adult.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, thank you Miss Sorenson. I think its funny too when my primary class calls me 'teacher' - I'd prefer 'Sista' (ha ha).
ReplyDelete