A few days ago my wife and I were eating breakfast in a local cafe when someone who was walking past with his family stopped and addressed me by name. It turned out to be someone that I taught over thirty years ago when I was working at Woolwich Polytechnic Boys School in Woolwich, London.
As a reminder of our meeting we had a photograph taken ...
... and later that day it was featured in a Facebook message.
This opened a floodgate of messages from some of my former pupils (and a former colleague), and the sharing of numerous memories. It would appear that many of them live all over the country (and at least one resides outside the UK), although quite a few still retain links with South East London.
As a reminder of our meeting we had a photograph taken ...
... and later that day it was featured in a Facebook message.
This opened a floodgate of messages from some of my former pupils (and a former colleague), and the sharing of numerous memories. It would appear that many of them live all over the country (and at least one resides outside the UK), although quite a few still retain links with South East London.
How lovely for you.
ReplyDeleteTradgardmastare,
DeleteI have always maintained that you cannot measure the impact of ones effectiveness as a teacher until at least twenty years after your pupils have left education. Reading so many positive comments from people that I taught over thirty years ago, and seeing what they have done with their lives makes me realise that my colleagues and I must have done a reasonable job all those years ago.
All the best,
Bob
That's great, Bob! Must be a good feeling to know you had such a positive impact as a teacher, even it's delayed gratification.
ReplyDeleteFitz-Badger,
DeleteI always worked on the assumption that everyone has a talent or something they are good at, and that if I could find that and work with them, they would achieve success. Judging by the messages and reactions I have had from my former pupils, I must have managed to do that with them.
Find that out really made my day.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob! My daughter (A Teacher) has a mug on her desk that says: To teach is to touch lives forever.
ReplyDeleteMartin,
DeleteThe pay and conditions might not always be as good as we might like, but your daughter's sentiments sum up why we do the job. The satisfaction one gets when you see that spark when a pupil 'gets' it is difficult to describe.
All the best,
Bob
It does say something positive that students remember your name after 30 years AND want to communicate with you.
ReplyDeleteRoss Mac,
DeleteI suppose that it proves that I must have been doing right all those years ago ... and that I was very lucky to have taught such a great bunch of people!
All the best,
Bob
That's wonderful, Bob. Am so pleased for you. You always hope that you're having a positive impact but for that to be confirmed in this way must be a very good for the soul indeed.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Aaron
Prufrock (Aaron),
DeleteYou are right about it helping me to realise that making the career choice that I did - to give up a very lucrative private banking career to train as a teacher - was the right one, and that I did actually make a small difference to quite a few people.
All the best,
Bob
Dear Bob, We all remember our good teachers. It reflects only credit upon yourself. I have read the e book of Portable Wargames whilst waiting for the paper copies, great stuff. I have realised that I have the toys available to set up and plat the WW2 scenario. Just needs some assembly and painting. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteChris Platt,
DeleteThanks for your very kind comment. I just did the best that I could.
Your 'I could do that' reaction was exactly the sort of reaction I was hoping for! I'd be interested to hear how your replay of the scenario goes.
All the best,
Bob