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My highschool physics teacher had a similar story, he was one of best teachers I ever had. I went from disliking physics to becoming a EE major in college. Doubt I would be where I am today without him coming in at the right moment in my life.

So, yes, a good teacher could inspire 10+ others to make spacecraft, tech startups, etc. Maybe the ROI for humanity is greater if that teacher stayed as an IC in their field.

that's debatable

I think the implication is that a good teacher can inspire more students to take up science and contribute broadly to the field than just one person on a specific field.

Pretty much. Having a working understanding of Newtonian physics, electricity, and other High School physics topics has real-world benefits. Landing a spacecraft on Mars is a remarkable technical achievement, but makes almost no difference in the life of 99.999% of people.

Either could inspire someone to pursue a career in science, I was more thinking of just practical benefits.

One brilliant scientist can inspire millions of children, that is much more than a teacher.

What reality are you living in? Zero ambition?