I was searching for a video for my presentation at the SAME-TEC conference when I stumbled upon Planet of Peril, Planet of Promise. A student, Andrew, is brought into the principal’s office for selling T-shirts with the slogan, “Life Sucks”. When asked why he had the negative viewpoint on life that he did, Andrew gives a very eloquent answer. The principal’s first response was funny. It is the second response that shows why good teachers are important and how to answer challenging students.

The principal in the animation is a good teacher for the fact that he takes what Andrew is upset about and changes them into a challenge. Andrew will remember the conversation for a very long time because it will probably have a large impact on his life. There always seems to be at least one teacher, good or bad, that has influenced us.

I have had three influential teachers who helped me in the good way. Mrs. Kiniski, my second grade teacher who gave me the love of reading, Mr. Glynn, who changed my career direction in high school, and Stephen Geller, in college, who cemented my career. (Amazing that I still remember these teachers quite clearly, even after thirty years.)

Is it something that we can “reach out” to touch a student’s life? Or is it something that just happens? Is it both? When I have had students seek me out after a year or two from when I taught them, to tell me what a difference I made in their lives, I wonder what it was I exactly did. Only one or two times could I think of a long discussion with a student. But not with the rest of them. The only things that I can think of are that I always believe in my students, and I really enjoy what I teach. I also wonder how many Andrews that I gave the principal’s first response to, and not the second.

What teachers do you remember who influenced you? Have you ever had a student come back to tell you that you changed their life? How many Andrews have challenged you, and were you successful in challenging them back?

Mark Viquesney