To ask teachers their opinion...

[GooGlit]

If it would be weird for me to email my former favourite high school teacher?

I left school about 20 years ago but often think of him and what a great guy he was. He went above and beyond for me and, as most teenagers didn't, I don't think I ever told him how much of a great help he was to me?

Personally and academically.

I think it were me I'd be really appreciatibe of it but don't know if it's too weird?

I think there's a good chance he'll remember me as I was his star student and he left for another post the year after I left.

Silly but if he were female I don't think I'd hesitate so much?

There was nothing there attraction wise. Just thought I'd say that for clarification!

But I would like to tell him how much of a difference he made to my life and now I have children of high school age I appreciate him even more.

He's not on Facebook but he's very easy to find so it would have to be his current school email address which I can't shake the feeling of it being weird?

He was easy to find due to an unusual name combination so not like I've had to stalk him for years to find 😁

What do you think?

If there are any teachers here who could express their opinion on it I'd be very grateful.

I'm happy to accept the majority vote so IABU I'll accept that!

Wow that was long! Thanks if you read it!

Yes. Its thoughtful and lovely. Dont over think it.

Sorry OP not a teacher (as these threads always go ) but that sounds lovely! I'm sure you could make his day - it's always nice to be appreciated, particularly in these tough times. I say go for it!

That would mean an awful lot to me personally. Especially after how much time has passed and what is happening now ii'm sure he could do with the little lift!

I taught for 25 years before very early retirement. Like many teachers I lived in one town and taught in a nearby city. Last year when I was choosing my as tree at a Xmas tree farm I bumped into an ex student I taught I think about 16 years ago. I did not recognise him but he recognised me. He came running over and said Miss X is that you. I smiled and said yes but I don't remember you. He laughed and told me his name. I remembered a very difficult 18 year old in my tutor group who was always late and I did not teach him but I got constant complaints from other teachers about him. I told him I did remember him and he said thank you Miss. I said what ever for. He said you were always really nice to me even when I was always making more work for you and when I grew up and got a job I realised what you said about being on time was important. He said he had his own roofing form and employed 4 men. He said I was the only teacher that did not shout at him. He carried my tree to my car and before he left he said I had really made a difference for him in Sixth Form. I was really touched. I felt really happy because he had been so unmotivated at 18. I think the teacher would like to hear how you got on.

Just to add a personal anecdote - one of my favourite teachers in the world died of undiagnosed brain cancer in my last year of school and I'm still cut up that I didn't get to thank her. It's always worth reaching out to people - the potential embarrassment is nowhere near as bad as the potential regret. Best of luck, you sound lovely. xx

As a retired teacher, I think it's a lovely idea.

Thanks everyone.

That's exactly what I needed to hear

I'll let you know if he replies

Thank you Vipers

I sent an email after posting and he replied at lunchtime. It was a great email saying he remembers me and has fond memories of teaching me.

He also congratulated on my marriage and a few other things and signed it off with a huge thanks saying I'd made his day!

I'm so glad I did it with your resounding support

That's lovely. As a (retired) teacher, it's really nice to hear how ex pupils have got on. I wish I had contacted some of my old teachers but I doubt if they are still with us now. Before email and social media it would have been difficult anyway.

Sorry I'm not a teacher but that sounds absolutely lovely. I am sure you will make his year. That really is so nice.

I'm glad you emailed him. I did the same a whole back as I realised how big an impact one teacher had on me and I wanted him to know how much I appreciated it. He was pleased to hear from me too!

I'm a TA now to primary children. When they give me a card or note it means so much to me. I think everyone likes knowing they are making a positive impact.

As a teacher I would love this!

We sometimes hear from ex students a year or so after leaving or at key milestones e.g getting a job they were working towards or graduating from university etc. But after that we don't hear much if anything! I think it's lovely to know if you've made a lasting impact on someone's life, that's why we become teachers in the first place! :)

It would be lovely.

In RL I have met two ex-pupils who have told me how much I meant to them and I treasure what they said to me.

Someone may come along to say they think it's weird, but I don't imagine they'll be a teacher. Every teacher I have ever known would love this.

Awww. It's nice that you're so popular.

This made me cry - so so lovely and so glad you had a response!

I love to hear from old pupils.

I can't understand who has voted YABU

That is so lovely.
I know a LOT of teachers and everyone would LOVE to get an e-mail like that.

@Tezza1

As a retired teacher, I think it's a lovely idea.

As a teacher I liked to hear how my ex-pupils were getting on, occasionally from the front pages of the papers, I particularly recall a colleague going on a course and meeting up with a pupils from about 12 years earlier. This woman sent me a message thanking me for being an inspiration to her in her career, I found that very moving. All the presents you give at the end of term don't match a card, letter of appreciation, when my OH died earlier this year we found in his stuff a note written to him alost 50 years earlier by a grateful mother.

I renewed contact with my favourite teacher (juniors 1 in primary, she was a wonderful person and made me believe in myself). I've told her how much she meant to me and that she has always been my favourite teacher. She was delighted and remembered me well. She is in her 80s. We are now facebook friends 😁

I work in a school and you'd be surprised how often we get ex-students contacting us for help tracking down admired and appreciated former teachers. It's not weird at all.
I think your teacher will be thrilled. Don't assume he'll automatically remember you though; he might need a prompt - eg what you've said here about being in his final tutor group before leaving.

I think it's lovely. I used to be a Brownie leader 15-20 years ago (for about 8 years). My dd's teacher now in primary school used to be one of my Brownies. She recognised me, it was so lovely that she remembered me from all that time ago. And it's lovely to see how well she is getting on now.
I might look up my favourite teachers from school now, see who I can find!

@FlatulentSproutEater

Awww. It's nice that you're so popular.

I'm pleased I've made you all smile.

I can't see any votes on my screen so it's fine by me!

Doris - I'd love to meet him for a coffee and chat. Email doesn't get enough gratitude and we only live a few miles apart as it happens!

I sent him a reply. I don't know if he'll reply again but if nothing else he told me it made his day. Which is nothing compared to him making my teen hood!

So lovely to see the positive stories on here. Teachers get such a bad rap on here sometimes and I think they're seriously undervalued.

Something that should have come to light when we all had to teach our little darlings this year! Hahaha

I made a point of gushing to my DCs teachers when we had contact during lockdown. I couldn't do it! And I think they were bloody marvellous!