Teachers. Did they make or break you?

[bubblegum7474]

I remember when I was in year 4, my class teacher embarrassed me for not knowing my times tables. I sat there and cried. He proceeded to tell me to 'get out' when he realised I wasn't very good at it. I wish he was a teacher that helped after finding out my biggest fear/struggle. Alas, now at 30 I still hate Maths (somehow managed to get through the GCSE's with a grade C) but I know with a little more help I may have had the courage to better things and make better decisions academically.

Do you have any stories and how did it impact you?

Maybe they should just scrap PE. It does more harm than good.

They could probably cut eating disorders and teenage depression by 50% if they made it optional.

I moved about a bit as a child so went to several schools and then did my A levels at college. University/medical training was fcking hard work and physical exhausting but none of my teachers/lecturers stand out. Certain surgeons and consultants stand out as being complete cnts but that’s about all. I specialised in emergency/trauma medicine and so much has happened since I graduated that I can barely remember much before.

I had a wonderful history teacher and an amazing English teacher. I also had a primary school teacher I remember being very fond of.

Primary 3 Mrs McInnes, that woman changed my life and my brother life,

@monkeytennis97 Here we go again... what? Are you suggesting no one speaks fondly or critically of teachers. Just in case some faint hearted teacher needs to steady themselves

V lovely primary.and secondary teachers. Our.Maths teacher for O level.went to great effort to help.those of us ahem.less mathematical types and ive never been prouder of a c than I was to pass!

However I did have problems with depression and disorganisation at.A level.and im.amazed looking back how no one picked up on how badly I was coping.(v academic girls"s school). I remember once bursting into tears to.the male history teacher and he was in a complete panic. Pastoral care so patchy in the 80s unless you were in "genuine" difficulty.)homeless, divorce sickness. Ordinary academic problems, that we might now consider due to SEN or mental health were not really on the radar.

I think looking back was that there was no option B or C presented to us, ie further training vocational.path. it was all, academic, university, publisher, lawyer accountant doctor finance. Or possibly teacher lecturer translator.
I wish.someone.had.said, school.is.just.one way of learning and.it.doesnt have to define you forever.

The PE teachers were all.a bit.odd. it was a thankless task.I.guess. put me off team sport forever though.

I was a geeky kid with asthma. I lived in small town Canada. I had some great teachers and some awful ones. I had good abilities but was timid and feared failure. I was scared of some of my teachers who did things like throw chalk and actually paddle kids with a yardstick.

My PE teacher Junior High (age 13, 14) was awful. My grade 12 chemistry teacher told me not to bother writing a provincial scholarship exam, but my parents encouraged me and I scored the highest mark in the province. I guess at least she taught me what I needed to know!

I found university great. I found my people! I was not the class geek, no more bullies and no awful teachers.

I loved one primary teacher so much ,(an old lady Miss...) that I sent her a coveted patchwork cushion.I had spent the term making in her class. (which I wanted to keep but thought she would like,,,)She sent a letter to my mother saying how thrilled she was. I was so proud. They were so encouraging to a.shy child. But shy teens are more difficult to deal.with I think.

I remember one primary teacher bullying.and.belittling.another child.though constantly. We knew it was wrong.but we never.thought we had any.power to.tell anyone, a lesson in how bullies operate.

Not bashing teachers. There are many many MANY amazing ones. My siblings have lucky to have such amazing teachers. I just got unlucky.

Sometimes some people can have such a negative or positive impact in our lives. Whether it may be something they say or do for you. My DH had an amazing teacher that believed in him which led him to do great things. He also had a teacher tell him he wasn't the best looking in the class. You get all sorts. But looking back I do wish I had a teacher who believed in my. I hope my DC will have great teachers!

@Mintjulia

Maybe they should just scrap PE. It does more harm than good.

They could probably cut eating disorders and teenage depression by 50% if they made it optional.

Lol. I agree. I was always on my 'period'.

Two teachers mocked my story about God in year 3 and gave me a lifelong fear of showing my work to anyone. Also got mocked in front of the class for mixing up the spelling of bowel and bowl, but they failed to tell me which was which, so I ended up confused about which was correct for years. In secondary school, I was shamed in a sexual manner in front of my class by a physics teacher (I was a shy mouse of a student) which meant basically I was terrified of any attention in any class from then on. I still go bright red in certain circumstances, as a 35 year old grown woman with professional job etc.

I loved PE! Must be the only one

I had some average teachers in primary school. No one outstanding or encouraging. In high school I had a few amazing teachers. My school itself was not great and not what I would want for my own children, but some of those teachers went above, beyond and then some for me. I'm certain they shaped my future and I owe them a massive gratitude. I still keep in sporadic contact with one of them. She was my absolute favourite and I just loved her. I don't actually know if she knows just how much she meant to me or the influence she had but I hope she does.

I had a wonderful teacher when I was 7. What was then the first year of junior school. Year 3 now. She taught me to read something my infant school teachers never managed. They did smack me on the legs though.

At the junior school I had three fabulous teachers and one who was an absolute bastard. Only recently found out he was still alive. Well into his 90s. I found that quite hard to deal with if I'm honest.

Secondary school was fantastic. Some truly lovely teachers. I just put up with PE and got really good at skiving it as I got older.

My only regret is the lack of guidance as I got older. No one to counter my mum's view that education post 16 was wasted on a girl.
I got 7 O levels so I know with a bit of encouragement I could have passed A levels. Those from middle class homes had the confidence but I lacked it.

My year 6 teacher took an interest in me, encouraged me and was the first person to convince me that I was clever enough to do what I wanted to.
I've never had an awful teacher so I've been lucky I think but several mistook my lack of confidence for laziness or just being a bit of a slower learner.

I had an absolutely amazing teacher in the 4th year of Junior school (I guess that's now year 6), I was always told I was useless by the other teachers, but she was totally different and encouraged me, changed the whole way I viewed school after that. It's down to her that I got my head down and worked hard. She was the making of me.

I had a dickhead maths teacher at secondary school who burst out laughing when I said I was going to college and then university. His words were "you have no hope of passing anything".

After graduating, I got a job back at the school as the Network Manager looking after all the schools IT kit and network. Oh how I enjoyed my first day, walking into the staff room and coming face to face with him. And telling him how wrong he had been.

English and History teachers were wonderful, not just to me.

PE teachers just encouraged those who were talented. They never actually taught anyone else how to improve. They were all bullies who clearly enjoyed humiliating people.

Broke every single part of me. To this day. And I’m 45.

My art teacher at school was amazing. I grew up in an abusive environment so really suffered from a lack of confidence. He helped me feel more confident, gave me art books to read and got me interested in art history and was just an inspiring person. I went on to do a degree in design and even studied design history abroad for 6 months, in another language, which I never imagined I would do. I now have a good career in marketing.

I wish so much I could thank him for what he did for me, but sadly he passed away of a brain tumour not long after I left school.

I agree with the PE teachers. My very first one dragged us out in the snow/sleet one day and bellowed "I don't care if you all freeze to death, just get on with it!" In hindsight she might have been joking, but it didn't sound like that to a group of children. I only remember ever being praised once in PE as I got older, and on one occasion due to medical problems was made to do a slightly different version of a sport (won't say what as might be outing) which was utterly mortifying as the rest of my class were jeering and laughing at me.

On the other hand, I did have some wonderful teachers. My Year 4 teacher was great, I still keep in touch with him now and again even though he's travelled the world since then. My History teacher in Years 7-8 was also amazing, she's retired now but was so encouraging. And lastly my Year 9-11 Chemistry teacher, I very nearly took A-Level chemistry because of her!

I’m dyslexic. When I was 7 my teacher shouted at me and mocked me in front of the class because I got mixed up with the word environment in a spelling test (I got the n and m the wrong way round) I will never forget how she made made me feel that day!