My Favorite Teacher (BFF 201)

When I think of teachers, my first thought goes to grade school through high school teachers.


I did not have very many “favorite” teachers. This may be due to the fact that I probably wasn‘t one of their ‘favorite“ students.   I was not what anyone would call a stellar student in high school. 


My mind was usually on some astral plain and definitely not focused on school. If I couldn’t put an immediate practical use to something they were trying to teach me, it went straight thru the wide open place between my ears and back into the infinity of space. 


I certainly couldn’t see any use for diagramming the structures of sentences, or dissecting the hidden meanings of poetry. I can’t say that  anyone really taught me those things, but there were certainly those that tried. 


One of those that tried, and probably thought she failed, was Mrs. Schidecker,  my high school English teacher. 

Ironically, what she did teach me was the inspiration to find my inner voice through writing.  You can blame her for my penchant for blogging.

In High school I never studied for any tests. Flirting with all the girls just took up way too much time. So when test time came I simply made up answers, or made snide and comedic remarks about how useless this information was.  She never told me what an idiot I was for not making an effort to learn. 


Instead, when the test came back (usually with a D or F) she would have equally funny (and intelligent) comments scribbled in the margins. Something along the lines of:


 “While I certainly enjoy reading your humorous  answers and sharing them with my church going friends, I can not in good conscience give you anything other than the F you know you deserve. However, your answers are very creative and if you would just watch your spelling you could fool people into thinking you are as smart as you really are.” 

or 

“If you would just spend a little time studying, you wouldn’t have to think so hard making up these wonderfully wrong answers”


The funny thing is, I started paying more attention so my answers would have even more satire to them because they were the right answers! Somehow I managed to pass that class with a C. But I give her an A for the inspiration and efforts.


She was a tall, imposing, and intelligent women. Looking back, it occurs to me that she seemed to have a slight aura of sadness about her. Her funny answers kept me from thinking about that too much. 


But now, I wish I had asked her about that, and I wish I could thank her for showing me the fun in writing and getting feedback.




Did you have a favorite teacher? Who was it, and what did they teach you?




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