"Good teaching cannot be reduced to technique; good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher." (Palmer, 2007, p. 10)
When I thought about that quote for a while it really helped me remember some of the great teachers I had during my public school days back in Pittsburgh. I was using the wrong criteria when I had my "brain fart" in class and was unable to recall any of my memorable teachers. Mr. Macken, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Schweiger, Mrs. Hardy, Ms. Belton, Mr. Lang, Dr. Bevan, Mrs. Kravitz and especially MR. Kravitz all shared the common thread of the aforementioned quote.
That collective group of teachers had moxie. They had personality. They taught with passion. They had IT. They taught who they were.
I almost feel bad for slighting them. They put so much time into making me the person I am today that I should be sent to teacher "detention" for lack of appreciation. The sense of connectedness my fellow students and I had in each of those classes was obvious and apparent. Those teachers enjoyed being there and we enjoyed bieng in their respective classes.
After reading Chapter 1 I realized that all of them were, in one way or another, mentors to me and my craft. When I think of my love for coaching and extra-curriculars I immediately think about the endless hours Mr. Macken spent coaching and proctoring a plethora of different intramural sports for us. One of my favorite memories from high school was scoring the winning goal in the intramural hockey championship. I carry a little piece of Mr. Macken's charisma with me at each practice I coach during my season.
I could go on and on with similar stories. Ms. Belton reading us "The Hobbit", Mr. Lang always telling us to "choose", Dr. Bevan turning a bunch of tone-deaf jocks into a phenomenal Men's Chorus, Mr. Schweiger being flat-out WACKY and justifying his refusal to wear deodorant because it was OK to smell like a human while wearing crazy ties, and Mr. Kravitz just being so flat out cool we just wanted to be in his class each day are all little pieces of who I am today. When I teach who I am, a large part of me is actually teaching who they were.
I'm grateful to all of them. They shared their courage, their heart and their integrity and I'm better off because of it. Hopefully someday one of my students will come back and tell me they were inspired by something we did together in class. Until then I'll keep teaching who I am and paying the same passion forward that those great teachers paid to me.
With deodorant though...
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Moxie, that is the right word. I enjoyed reading about your mentors. It made me recall (as did the readings) my own, some of whom I have already mentioned. Mrs. Vogric, my beloved undergrad. teacher of Italian, exemplified every virtue of which Palmer speaks - clear identity, unquestionable intregity - with a heart and soul dedicated to teaching the width and breath of Italian and to the Lord.
ReplyDeleteI was one of the last to major in Italian at Lone Mountain. For the last two years before I graduated I took independent study with Mrs. Vogric, who taught only me in 3 hour sessions. We reviewed Dante and other works in the vernacular. It just was an incredible, rich and indelible experience. Also, she was a devoted Catholic - her husband was a papal lawyer, directly reporting to the Vatican. She always managed to imbue all the works we read with the presence of the Lord and spirituality. She was my great mentor and is my finest role model.
You may continue to grow in appreciation for the teachers who made you and pass that spirit on to your own students. That's they gift they -- your mentors -- in turn passed on to you. Think of how many ripples have been created and will continue to be created in higher education because of your own experiences.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great reflection on those who have touched your life! As it did for Carla, it also brought back many memories not just from high school but also from elementary school. I remember Ms. Menconi, my 2nd grade teacher, who demonstrated compassion and good humor. I remember Mr. Fraser, my 6th grade teacher who no one liked, and his willingness to share his love of Japan with us and wonderful instruction of note taking. I remember Ms. Zydbel, my 7th grade teacher, who shared her love and appreciation for the arts, which in turn was passed onto me. So many adults outside of my family who shaped my life are still with me today.
ReplyDeleteI've learned so much about simply being me by from the types of people you wrote of in your blog. Moxy is, indeed, such a powerful word and a great description of many of the most influential teachers in my life. Even as a principal I was amazed at some teachers ability to engage their students. In highsight, they really were teaching who they were (are)!
ReplyDelete"Good teaching cannot be reduced to technique; good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher." (Palmer, 2007, p. 10)
ReplyDeleteI too liked this quote. However, I do think it is a false dilemma. A good teacher has BOTH integrity and technique. For example, a teacher with integrity still cannot lecture all day to a class with students with LDs.