Teachers: Society’s Unsung Heroes

As a grade-school youth, I cherished my time at school. My home life seemed to be a chaotic blend of quarreling parents intermixed with woeful inattention paid to their children. Add to this a couple of unfortunate years placed in foster homes and it quickly becomes clear why school became a safe haven for me. Not to pass judgment on my mother and father, as an adult I now realize that they did the best they could, considering their own time and circumstances.

Throughout my life, teachers always seemed to fill the gap left empty by my parents. I still vividly remember the pride I felt at Holy Spirit School, when Sister Marie-Francis took me aside to print posters for the school because I had the best penmanship in grade three. At home I was invisible, but I quickly learned that if I worked hard at school, I could shine. Many teachers seemed to take special interest in me throughout my grade school years. Their ongoing support and encouragement were my saving grace at a time when my need for both was acute. Whether they were fully aware or simply sensed the tragedy of my home life is a question that remains unanswered. To me, they all simply remain, my heroes.

Ask anyone, regardless of their education level, if they have a favourite teacher and you will surely get an enthusiastic response. It is likely that teacher impacted that person’s life in a positive way during his or her personal journey. Perhaps that teacher is remembered fondly for pushing them just a little harder or exposing them to some life-morphing revelation. Sometimes that special bond was developed simply because that teacher took the time to listen and offer help in a time of need. It is one of the few professions that can still have a profound impact in our sometimes demanding and difficult lives.

High school produced another great batch of memorable educators. Their interesting lives and characters became role models for my own future development. As always, the ingredients of the relationship remained the same. They took an interest in me, which in turn caused me to grow and learn from their experiences. My grade eleven physics teacher, Mark Geiger, often let me tag along in his nifty white MGB-GT when he set out to pick up dry ice for his lab or silk-screen ink for our dance posters. He was a cool guy and I always felt privileged just to be invited along.

Another aspect of what made some teachers memorable was how they shared small glimpses into their personal lives. I never missed Mister Wideman’s history class, simply because, he started each session with an interesting humorous anecdote detailing ongoing adventures with his quirky Alpha Romeo sports car.

Great teachers always seem to share a modicum more of themselves, instantly making their students feel just a bit more like good friends.

When I enrolled at Centennial College, the stakes became considerably higher. I hung on every word my instructors uttered. Their word was Gospel. I was now entering the world of Aviation Maintenance in my adult quest to becoming an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. Fixing and maintaining aircraft was a serious business, and I dutifully absorbed every ounce of knowledge that was given. Once again, the professors impressed me with their willingness to share their knowledge and experience, all the while encouraging me to push the envelope and do my best.

After many years working in the aviation industry, I finally returned to that very institution to repay the favour, and spent 22 years as an Aviation Maintenance professor. It was a wonderful experience, finally allowing me to become a member of a profession that I continue to hold in great esteem. It also revealed some inherent truths of life as a teacher that I feel obligated to share.

Firstly, teaching is not a job for everyone. Anyone who thinks it is easy has never done it, or perhaps more importantly, has never done it well. It is, without a doubt, one of the most challenging and potentially rewarding careers you could ever devote your life to.

Trust me when I say that only a fool would do it solely for the money. If you don’t care about your students, they will know immediately and won’t care about you or what you have to say. If you don’t love teaching, for you and the sake of your students, please don’t bother. However, if you have a passion for your subject, enjoy helping people, and truly care about our future generations, you could end up really making a difference.

It is always a wonderful experience for me when I run into any of my ex-students, now working at airports all over Canada. It is a constant reminder of my younger years in the business and how all those terrific teachers contributed in some small way to help me achieve my goals.

Sometimes, simply saying the right thing at the right time can change someone’s world. No teacher should ever forget that, and great teachers, the unsung heroes of our society, should always treasure that power. Whether it’s kindergarten or college, shouldering and sharing that gift remains a special kind of joy.