I think we should celebrate our successes more here with each other, to balance the hard work we do in the trenches. Here is a celebration from Robert:
Hi Ben,
It is so encouraging to hear from students, and I thought this might also encourage some of the ones who are struggling.
One of our English teachers gives seniors an assignment to write a letter to a teacher who had an impact on them and then give the letter to the teacher. This year I received three such letters but will only quote from one of them. This student was unable to take German his senior year because of scheduling conflicts, so this reflects his memories through his junior year.
“Having you for three years has made a huge impact on my life. I now speak German every day . . . . And your teaching methods should be taught to all teachers because you’re the only one who can teach us something without us even realizing it. German every day was my Sanctuary where I could just go in and talk. Your greetings were always something I looked forward to and on the days with a sub I’d just sit there and try to find someone to shake my hand.
“I always remember Bo & I saying how if ‘Herr Harrell taught all of our classes we would be in college by now.’ Thank you so much for being such a wonderful teacher and friend. . . .
“P.S. Thanks for going to the hockey games! Ich liebe Deutsch!”
Among the compliments I treasure is the one about teaching something without students even realizing it and the fact that my classroom was his sanctuary during the school day. BTW, this student makes a point of coming by, saying hello in German, and shaking my hand at least once each day even though he couldn’t be in class.
Robert