Outstanding teachers

Folks, I have been blessed down through the years by some excellent teachers. Oh I had a few that did not measure up to that standard but many did.

I would like to pay tribute, long overdue, to some who really made a difference in my life. Some of them were, my first grade teacher, Miss Fox, my fifth grade teacher, Miss Erisman, Junior High teacher Mr. Ullery and High School teachers Mr. Shimp, Mr. Mittler, Mrs. Stutz and Miss Howell.

These teachers helped shape my young life.

In college, Mr. Donges, my basketball and baseball coach, Dr. Lindower, Dr. Jacobs and Dr. Bollinger influenced me the most. All these men gave of themselves freely and touched my life. I could write columns about each man but will limit this column to some advice Dr. Bollinger gave me concerning teaching.

"Joe," he said. "Some people say that you must treat your students all alike. I am telling you that you don’t gotta treat them all alike! In fact if you do you will be a failure as a teacher. Each student has different needs and abilities. It is up to you to ascertain what these are and do your best to help fulfill those needs."

I believe he used those words, "You don’t gotta," to get my attention. He succeeded as I can almost hear him telling me again as I write this column.

I learned from teachers I taught with, administrators I taught under and teachers who served under me when I became an administrator. I remember the high school principal at the second school in which I taught, Mrs. McCoy was her name. I recall hearing her state, concerning a student that was in trouble, "I must find a way to reach that boy!" She made such an impression upon me that I vowed to try harder to do the same thing.

Folks, teaching is not simply dispensing information; it is far more than that!

Education is about people! It is not about things!

I could go on and on but you get the idea.

Thank God for caring teachers!

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