high school graduates

ah, those teachers

Let me begin with a correction. I should have referred to the distance from Perth instead of Geraldton along the Western Australia coast when I discussed naval facilities yesterday (‘Long way away’, 18 May 2024). I hate getting things wrong but there are no maintenance facilities in Geraldton so that wouldn’t have worked for my point. Thank you.

We attended a high school production of ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ today. It was superb. The singers were astonishing, enthusiasm infectious, the set so utilitarian in some great ways, and the orchestra was superb. I truly enjoyed it thoroughly.

I also departed with a tear in my eyes as I thought of the seniors, graduating in mere weeks, with so much head of them. They face countless decisions and perils within the lives they are entering. The world never follows a straight line (ask the Iranian president’s family today about whether he should have been on that helo) so no one can predict with complete certainty how things will develop.

Teachers, whether at home or in the classroom, will no longer be the same points of focus as the graduates move on. I do hope each graduate reflects upon some of their learning experiences.

Not every single person who taught us something conjures up warm and fuzzy memories. Some classroom teachers are overworked, cynical, dealing with too many disruptions and too many mandates, and the ups and downs of their own lives. But we learn so much from those ‘less than perfect’ experiences as well.

As the graduates proceed, I hope they take time to thank a teacher or—preferably—all of them that they can find. Not just the incredibly hardworking women and men who stood in front of the room with a math book or a history essay.

I hope the graduates thank those who took time to teach a frieghtened, bulled girl that it is ok to ask for help. Or the guy who introduced the soccer team to lose gracefully instead claiming their opponents cheated. Or the teacher who had to call a student to stay after class because her behaviour was disrupting the classroom through chattering. How about the first boss at the coffee bar who reminded a guy that he has to be on time for his job? The friend’s mother who took the opportunity to share the knack for making toffee ice cream? The list of people who we all ought to thank is virtually endless yet we too often narrowly consider teachers those who work in a brick and mortar building.

It’s worth taking time to think of all of the people we interact with who teach us invaluable lessons. Even if we hated the lesson, even if it benefited us long run, we must be thankful someone bothered.

Life is a process. I am confident each and every one of us remembers an incident where someone counseled or mentored us but we never took the time to thank the individual for advice that changed our behaviour markedly for the better. It’s never too late.

And perhaps we will, in return, receive the gratitude of people who learned from us as well.

Actions create consequences. Many, if not most, of the teachers we encounter create better outcomes, even if we are not aware of it as the encounter or discussion occurs. Each and every one of the teachers we meet leave us with some altered conditions.

I hope you will respond to this ACC as I welcome your thoughts of all types. I also thank you for taking the time to read and possibly pass this to someone else. Thanking those who subscribe to the newsletter is one of my daily highpoints as the subscriptions matter a great deal.

May your week be a satisfying one with sunshine and motivation. Be well and be safe. FIN