Carrying on with the school theme from yesterday, I just so happened to be watching the film ‘The Dead Poets Society’ last night, and this took me back to my own schooldays and two very different teachers that I had back in 1974 when I was 16/17.
For some unaccountable reason I decided to take A Level Chemistry in the Sixth Form. My best friend was taking it, and I wanted to be a doctor – perhaps those were the reasons why, but it was one of the worst decisions I ever made. I had passed the ‘O’ level though, so was perhaps suffused with confidence.
I don’t know if you’ve ever read any of my other blogs, but if you have you would have gathered that unfortunately I am rather numerically illiterate. A Level Chemistry requires the student to be somewhat better at Maths and equations and calculations than I was/am. It always seemed whichever method I used to work out a problem usually turned out to be the exact opposite of what I should have been doing, but I could never see why. The teacher would belittle me in front of the other students, and seemed to enjoy picking out my many faults. In fact not even halfway into the course, demoralised and dreading the next lesson, I gave it up, together with my pipe dream of becoming a doctor.
Compare the chemistry teacher with my music teacher. She saw in me a love of music, whether classical or modern. She welcomed me into the choir, the orchestra, and the madrigal group. She took a few of us to the Kenwood concerts one year in her little Mini Cooper. She invited us to her home for tea and cakes and a singing afternoon together. She wanted me to take A Level Music, but I couldn’t see at the time how it would have helped me in a career, so I didn’t. I kept up with the choir and orchestra though, and through her I learned to love Gilbert & Sullivan’s works, especially ‘The Gondoliers’ and ‘The Mikado’, and also Carl Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’.
I wish I’d taken Music now at A Level, but hey ho…
A teacher can have a profound effect on a young mind. Some of them know this, but others should not take their responsibilities lightly.
OIKOS™-Redaktion said:
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thank you for the re-blog!
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Jennie said:
Oh, I know this well. I adore teaching, and apparently those I have taught have fond memories, as they return to visit or invite me to their events. Your music teacher must have been the best! Thank goodness my math skills (or lack thereof) are fine for preschoolers. Thanks for a terrific post, Stevie.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks. Yes, my music teacher was very dedicated to improving young minds.
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Jennie said:
You’re welcome!
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Clive said:
You’re so right, teachers can have a major impact – for good and bad – on our choices in education. I’m glad you found the joy of music the way you did – I suspect that this was probably better than having it as an A level subject. And thank you for reminding me of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: that song is now stuck in my head – no bad thing!
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Stevie Turner said:
Ah, good old CSNY. I think my favourite of theirs is ‘Love the One You’re With’.
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Clive said:
Great song but was actually a Stephen Stills solo! 😉 Their early albums were brilliant, amazing vocals 😊
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Stevie Turner said:
Oh, I stand corrected. Yeah, still a great song though.
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Clive said:
Sorry, big fan here! They’ve all made some great records over the years, both solo, in pairs and as the band.
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Priscilla Bettis said:
Mr. Glen Wright, my high school English teacher at Service High School, gave me a love for books. He was an amazing teacher.
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jenanita01 said:
I always wanted to be a doctor too, but it sounds like I wouldn’t have made the grade either, as I’m no good with math!
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Stevie Turner said:
Maths and Physics …ugh, my worst subjects.
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jenanita01 said:
I always wish I could have tried, though…
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Stevie Turner said:
I did try, but it was no good.
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jenanita01 said:
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks for re-blogging.
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