Some of them were almost like this guy [1].
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/OldSchoolCool/comments/2eg6ax/my_dad_teaching_math_in_southern_california_late/
I went to school in Kathmandu, Nepal and graduated high school in 2016. Currently I work as a programmer in NYC.
99% of my teachers were sadistic assholes who’d be in prison for child abuse in any first world country. I’d be rountinely beatup physically for not doing homework, for disturbing class, for not doing well in tests etc. Once in 7th grade, I was spanked on my thighs by a teacher so bad I could not walk for 3 days. In 2nd grade by headmaster beat me up with a cricket bat on my shoulders and back for not finishing half of my English homework. And I was one of the better students (average B+ equivalent) , a lot of my fellow classmates had it worse than me. Specially the ones who had a different mothertongue (not Nepali). This is mostly cultural. Often parents would tell teachers to punish kids more because their grades were not good enough. Most parents including mine were equally abusive at home. I remember the utter, frothing rage of teachers who would go fully ballistic at kids for the minorest offense.
Regardless of culture, I believe the system attracted the worst of worst (those who can’t, —- teach) scum of the society who would find pleasure in hurting the helpless. You might think this is an outlier case but this is still the norm for the majority in Nepal and I believe a lot of third world countries.
After attending college in the states, I was diagnosed with ADHD, which no one knows about back home. It has taken me years in therapy to make peace with this and I’m still filled with horror and rage when I think about it. I don’t know what I can do about this, but my heart breaks when I think of hundreds of thousands of kids who are still going through this.
There were a couple (literally 3) teachers I fondly remember who were kind and tried to make their subjects interesting. But they were the exception.
You deserve to be happy and to be able to make mistakes without being hurt or punished for them...
Is it still the same, or has it changed?
Many of my teachers were strongly biased against boys, and this bias was more severe the more stereotypically male you were. A quiet girl arriving to class a minute late would be excused without comment, a boy would be made to explain himself, a boy on the football team would be given a punishment. This extended to all things- grading, treatment during discussions, treatment for absences due to illness, etc.
Many teachers seemed to believe they were characters in an 80s movie where jocks got away with everything, and so in turn they were far more strict and adversarial with students who fit that mold. The reality was living in a system where you were discriminated against, while being told the discriminatory actions were corrective for events that happened to other people before you were born.
I pursued STEM because grading was objective in those classes, it didn't matter if the math teacher disliked you if you solved the problem correctly, whereas no matter how good your English assignment was a teacher could arbitrarily deduct points.
Similarly, I learned to code switch into a more docile, sensitive and deferential persona around liberal arts teachers to maintain the ability to earn an A.
I remember 3 really good teachers in high school. One was my 9th grade English teacher and the other 2 were part of a pilot program to introduce a multi-period general purpose computer class in the late 90s. I still think about them sometimes. What was unique about the 2 running the computer class was since it was a pilot program (first time trying it), there was no rule book. They put together a curriculum but I remember there being a lot of time for self guidance and experimenting (it was a 4 period class every day for 2 years) which was great.
However, I remember taking a job placement test in 6th or 7th grade. That test said I was best suited to be a mortician or a brick layer. I also remember being threatened with detention multiple times when I was 7-10 years old because I didn't want to pledge allegance to the flag every morning. Not because I hate my country or was brought up in a weird way around that, I just didn't like the idea of being forced into doing something I didn't understand.
One of my biggest takeaways from school was that I learned not to depend on anyone for anything that's truly important and being an adult doesn't mean you're always right by default. I have no regrets or issues with that outcome.
The teacher who I remember with love and respect to this day was one Mr. E who taught at the elementary school I attended. He had such a dignity and gravitas. I don't recall ever seeing him smile, nor did he ever raise his voice in anger, yet he commanded universal obedience and respect, not out of fear of him, but out of love and a fear of disappointing him.
Here's what I mean: One day some kids were running around in the hall goofing off. A visiting parent was there and told them to stop. The kids ignored her. She says, "I'll tell your teacher." they keep running and yelling. "I'll tell the principal." Nothing, they keep playing. "I'll tell Mr. E." snap! As though a switch were thrown the kids immediately stop running and shouting, straighten up (literally), and transform into little angels. Mr E wasn't even anywhere around. The invocation of his name alone was enough to remind the kids to behave properly.
Decades later, I've still never met anyone like him. I hear he's retired, gone into farming, and still visits the school from time to time.
On the plus side I figured out I can learn pretty much anything for a textbook, except for sequences and series and mathematical proofs which still baffle me.
I should say, not everyone around me felt the same about the school. There were always people who felt they're too cool for school, or did that teenagery thing where picking faults somehow makes you feel grown up. Also, it's not like every minute of every single class was pure rapture. There were lots of boring bits, and exam stress, and just having to get on with things. They're teachers, not entertainers.
But all these people taught me how to learn hard stuff. They taught me that learning itself is fun, even when the nitty gritty of learning isn't necessarily so. Many of them modeled it by being curious and interested. They treated us with respect, which clearly wasn't based on how much we knew.
And I guess it definitely left a mark as, even though I'm not a teacher, I do spend a lot of time thinking how to add value through educating. Both in, like, blogging, but also in business. I know how it feels to be empowered by knowledge, so I like being able to offer it to others.
To be fair, in recent years they have pulled several pedophiles out of my former high school, my friends and I felt a weird vibe from some of the teachers so I guess at least some of them were more interested in the kids than I originally assumed.
1st English teacher: she was awesome. She was relaxed, cool,and even took us to her allotment on a hot spring day and bought ice-cream for all of us.
2nd English teacher: she was self important, a bit arrogant and claimed that her husband's salary is for the family,while hers is for her only:) Despite all of this,she was a really good teacher.
1st math teacher: she could easily run a battalion, wouldn't take any hostages either. Nobody was messing up with her,she was strict but fair and because of my behaviour I had a permanent seat at the front row for a few years:)
2nd math teacher: was strict but also knew how to throw jokes around.
Russian language teacher: nobody was messing up with her,she knew how to have a complete order in a classroom. Didn't learn shit thought because I hated the language.
Lithuanian language teacher: she was a bitch, toxic and spiteful. Nobody has ever liked her.
Religion studies teacher: whilst the subject was a complete nonsense for a young atheist like me, the teacher was super cool and everyone liked her. A friend once showed up completely drunk for the lesson,she didn't even kick him out.
Physics teacher: he used to come to school wearing flipflops, didn't give a shit about much, showed up drunk at some teachers event and was mocking the higher ups behind their backs. He used to give decent grades to those who just didn't want to study and then focused on those who were interested.
3rd English teacher: this guy was from New Jersey as part of the peace corps. Having an American in your class during '90s was quite something and was really interesting to listen how's life on the other side of the pond. The last time I checked he's doing some missions in Africa nowadays.
One of my elementary school math teachers became a middle school teacher, but ended up having a nervous breakdown and leaving halfway through the year.
A science teacher in middle school put me in detention practically every other day, for reasons from not doing my homework to "not supporting the troops" or calling a kid who was ranting about how "we need to start slaughtering all the ragheads" a bigot.
There are a couple teachers that I vaguely remember because they were stretched particularly thin.
As an adult I can tell they cared/tried... but none of them left an impression
Edit: I grew up in a very low income area in Appalachia. I consider myself lucky for learning much of anything
Most teachers that I had were fairly average to good. Some were outright bad (I had a geography teacher who was so in over his head that he was replaced after a year; I had a German teacher for two years who would just assign us projects and go drink coffee most of the time).
But I did have some absolutely amazing teachers that have probably influenced me more than I realise it.
One was my third to fourth grade teacher. An awesome person who really loved kids, made sure to teach us valuable lessons and a very creative person (we made two theater performances that I still remember fondly).
Another was my German and French teacher in the last 4 years of school who opened up the world of literature to me like no one else. She was rigorous and demanding but also kind and understanding.
My maths teacher was a young woman. Very attractive actually, but I didn't look at her in that way. Just effortlessly brilliant and made me love maths after finding it totally boring (too easy) through most of school.
My other teachers were really great and I think loved teaching the last couple of years with only the smart and determined kids left. I felt sorry for all the teachers before that who had to put up with the less smart ones. There's not much more satisfying than teaching smart people.
I one day hope to achieve the special type of antisocial but not crazy that allows you to get a PA teaching credential.
(This was my middle school, Cory doesn't return my emails because I made too many jokes about his love of... cartoons): https://boingboing.net/2013/01/05/pedagogyofthedepressed.htm...
Primary school years were not formative years of my life.
I was sent to a private school because it had pupils from households that mirrored our socio-economic status (Middle class as opposed to outright poor).
Teachers were poorly qualified with training in teaching. Neither they had degrees in fields. But they did do their job.
Teachers doing their jobs in public schools was unheard of. So, as opposed to neglect, I had teachers who actually did their jobs. Albeit poorly. That's it.
Some were rude. Some were gentle.
Middle and High Schools had really great humanity teachers. Really really great. They cared about students, they knew their business. One was an active and acclaimed researcher in local history. Had a really good, world class humanities education up to High School. Minus the modern wokeness, of course.
I learned how to write, how to actually read literature, how to think about and analyze literary pieces. I remember the literature syllabus being good and thoughtful.
It also formed my base and I am mote into literature now. I can appreciate art. I am very thankful.
Cannot say the same about Science education.
Science education was mediocre. The syllabus was covered. Heuristics of solving math problems were taught, not the reason or how stuff came. Physics, Chem, and Bio were taught the same way. Heuristics were taught, definitions- we were supposed to memorize.
My science education took off when in HS, I came in touch with the Internet, and it turned my life around.
I always got A+ in Science subjects, but learned real science only through the internet and textbooks suggested in the internet.
MIT OCW Calculus class was a life changer.
Despite all their folly, both humanities and science teachers encouraged participation in science fairs, cultural programs, and encouraged questioning. And they answered questions patiently.
I am thankful for that.
4/5 out of 40 or so teachers were outright idiots.
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/obituaries/2015/01/10/j-j-co...
After that, we always had multiple teachers, and they were of course a real mix, some very good, some seemed hardly employable.
Grade 4 was my first experience of a bad teacher. Quite often late to class. Wouldn't teach, we were given the book and told 'read chapter X today.' and no noise was allowed. assigned seats you couldn't leave until you were allowed. You basically couldn't talk until recess/lunch.
Grade 5? Same teacher. Normally you get a new teacher each year but... it took virtually no effort to pass his tests. "What is the name of the author, William __________?" A, red, B, true, C, Shakespeare, D, banana.
Grade 6, Not perfect teacher but was overly positive and enthusiastic. everyone got a playful positive nickname.
7? Same teacher as 4 and 5. Seriously. He even admitted he was helping us by not being too difficult he would threaten us with tests. Rarely actually happened.
Grade 8? Everyday sports. New teacher but they didn't want anything to do with anything that wasn't sports. We followed many sports in class. We would get tested on NHL stuff every year. For other subjects, he would literally just read the textbook to us. Never asked us questions, never tested us. BUT he got facts into everyone's brains. omg everyone really got everything he taught. He put everything in terms of sports and making everyone understand.
High school?
Suddenly we were at the big games. Our teachers actually taught. culture shock! even gave us tests. Even more shocking, it seems like other elementary schools were also bad.
But now we had personality problems. Grade 9 english, she just got divorced. Told us that all the boys in class will be failing. Not that we can't try but we weren't smart enough to possibly pass. She assigned seats such that a girl is sitting next to each boy. She said the girls weren't being punished, it's just the only chance the boys might be able to cheat off the girls and maybe pass. Each boy ended up with 51% final score. The ultra smart asian boys who probably had 100% got 51% and we beat by their parents.
Religion teacher was gone for a month. He used his coat and his hand to describe what the foreskin of a penis was like and how it gets erect. Never did find out but he got into some serious shit. the community was losing their mind over it lol. Religion class became sex ed, but imagine a catholic priest coming to class to teach sex ed to 'correct us' ya well what you're imagining is not even close to how bad it actually was.
math is my favourite though. First month was 'review' of what we should know from elementary school. I never once opened the textbook and I did no homework. teacher never said anything. The day before the test was a summary coverage of maths. At the end the teacher just goes off on me. Calling me a loser who hasn't done anything and when I fail the test he will have me removed from the class. He never let me say anything.
We did the test and next day we get the results back. I was the last one to get the test back who got the 2 bonus questions right scoring above 100% and he immediately grabbed me by the arm after realizing it was me and dragged me to the principal for cheating. Principal was like, 'how'd he cheat?' like obviously i didnt copy a neighbour. Teacher stormed out of the office when he didn't know how i cheated.
Couple weeks later.. geography test had bonus question that used the coordinate system. It's a trivial question but apparently it was a 'cheater testing question' nobody else was able to answer the question correctly. So I was accused for a second time for cheating. I didnt find out until years later the teachers were friends and they were just being abusive.