Chances are you’ve had an influential teacher at some point in your life. They shape you, your outlook on education and, occasionally, your interests and passions. As a high school senior who’s attended nearly 10 different schools, I’ve come across some rather dull teachers, turning subjects I once loved into meticulous tasks.
In Math 9, I had what I believe to be the most boring and mundane teacher to ever exist. Rarely speaking more than a few words and simply giving the class work without any instruction, I watched the love for math in many students just absolutely dissolve. If something is boring – and I adamantly find math to be boring — you have to find a way to engage students and make it interesting.
Conversely, I’ve had a few absolutely incredible teachers who have been quite essential in building my interests, as well as what I and others aspire to be.
These types of teachers are passionate about what they do and set out to make a difference in their students’ lives no matter how significant or insignificant it may be. Luckily enough, my current history teacher is one of them.
Mr. Paul Bendall of Belmont Secondary school, is able to keep an entire class listening, which is rarer than one may think.
He enjoys his job and “[loves] making connections with students and building those relationships that [he hopes] they will remember long after high school.”
Using different ways to engage and interact with his students, including humour, which is often times self-deprecating, he keeps his class interesting.
Socratic Seminars are one tactic he uses — having the class get together to discuss what we are currently learning.
Although these seminars give me slightly more anxiety than I’m used to, they’re quite useful.
He is one of the most passionate teachers I’ve ever had. People don’t just stumble into teaching. He became an educator because he “[loves] working with knowledge and ideas. Discovering them, discussing them, challenging them. It’s so exciting to find a career in which I get to go on a journey every day with people I admire and respect.” Every action he takes radiates a love of his profession.
Influential teachers can play a crucial role in your transition out of high school. They could spark an interest in a certain subject, or completely change your outlook. Just by doing something they care about, they can influence the way their students will grow.
Hailey Merritt is a student in Belmont Secondary school’s writing class.