Teachers Unsung Heroes

Can you imagine what it is like to teach?

How can you inspire someone to 'WANT to learn' ?



One becomes a student only after the curiosity to go forward has been awoken.

The awakening of that inner you or me needs a guide -a Merlin- who might make us "ready", for our own point of departure or flight, to new levels of awareness -to lead us to pull our own swords out of the mystic stone.

And what is a teacher? Surely not simply a nine to five dispenser of a given brand of information.

A high-school teacher unlike a University Professor, has the toughest job of all -competing with young adults' emerging raging hormones and testosterone fueled bravado. This is especially so in our entertainment oriented society where we must be entertained. How can the teacher compete?

The teacher has a daunting job in high school as a life guide who must be able make the young person aware that they have a mind first and then show how each, may reach inside and turn-on the motivational switch somehow.

But there are those of a different stripe, who are ready to learn. They have 'it'; the itch, the passion and the drive to aspire and acquire knowledge. They know life is like a giant screen upon which they can project their pure creativity and possibly become greater than who they are and take our world with them to a new place.

And just as there are students who have achieved this readiness, there are teachers who, by life experience or inherent qualities have touched the philosopher's stone and are gifted with 'IT' -wisdom, patience and the ability to recognize 'readiness-in-the rough' despite the rough.

Howard S.Billings has had many gifted teachers and probably still does. A high-school though, is sometime not the place for them and like fireflies or sparks on the night sky, their flame goes out all too soon in such an environment.

Sometimes systems do more harm than good; from head-count for budgetary reasons, new Provincial laws through the school board, to regimenting the mind at a time when it needs creative freedom.

A high-school is like a chariot being drawn by the horses of administration, teacher and adolescent; three distinctly different agendas pulling in different directions. The teacher's job is to somehow take hold of that harness and steer all to common direction -a higher level of learning, even when these forces work against him or her.

A teacher rarely receives recognition for a job well done. They do not receive production bonuses. Administration cannot be seen to side with teachers since this might tip the continual union/administration bargaining stance.

A good job is expected., through endless nights and days of preparation and marking, classes of those who would disrupt, distract and otherwise wreak havoc. There is also having to bear Provincial policy twists that would reform at the expense of the teacher's preparation hours and as a result lessen the quality of education.




At the end of the day, teachers are human, fraught with the same frailties, urges, temptations, guilt, ego, insecurities and life stages, potential for mistakes and learning as the rest of us. Yet do we hold them up to a higher standard -for after all, they are 'teachers' - they, who would mold our youth through their teaching and higher example. God help them should they show their emotion in a moment of stress or weakness.


Back in the seventies though, - there were some fine teachers - Mr.Mulahoo, Mr.Howes, Mr.Dawson, Mrs. Strike, Mr. Calder, Miss Laporte, Mr.Maynes, Mr.Freeman, Miss Green, Mr.Atkins, Mr.Goody Campbell, Mr.Duff, Mr.Guindi, Mr.Hall, Mr. Mahabir, Mr.Hutchings, Mr.Peterson, Mr.Meldrum, Mr.Rennie, Mr.Tomlinson, Mr.Herridge, Mr.Woods, Mr. Rossiter, Mr. Roberts, Mr.Royle, Mr.Simpkin, Sally Clark, Janice Turner, Mr.Hutchison,
Miss McCrudden, Mr.Munkittrik , Mr.Bush, Miss Westgate, Mr.Wells, Mr.Pellow, Father Victor Dionne, Mr.McKesey, Mr.Scott, John Elias, Mr.Falcon, Mme. Dubreuil, Mr.Ingram and many more.

They left their print on us in subtle and unique ways. They knew that we could think. They believed in us sometimes even when we could not. They gave of themselves.

What this reunion will be about, -beyond the nostalgic looking back, will be a recognition of your past efforts and a resounding Thank You.