Comments on: The End of a Teaching Year

By: CGabriel

CGabriel — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:32:58 +0000

Empowering young people is often all it takes to give space for their creative floodgates to open. I’ve read your blog (always interesting!) and know you understand empowering through the arts only too well.

By the way, are you ever in………a blue hat?

By: TheManInTheYellowHat

TheManInTheYellowHat — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:15:40 +0000

Great story. I’m sure your absence will be just as much a void for them as they feel to you. I remember my inspiring teachers, and my early acting teachers, with much admiration, oh so many years later.

You did a good thing there. Congrats.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:03:59 +0000

I recently had the chance to talk with and to a class on systems thinking at my local public university. I was very impressed with the students (all transfers, all taking a writing-intensive class). Peak oil, climate, local food– they all seemed to be ahead of the curve. As someone who is called on to talk about sustainability to wannabe sustainability experts my age (early 50′s), I was delighted and surprised by their expertise and passion.

I remember when I was in college in the late 70′s college teacher complained that incoming students were more governable, but unfortunately more grade-oriented, not just in ambition, but in their approach to knowledge (“will that be on the test?”).

Do teachers out there sense that the long winter (which may have begun before they stated teaching) is thawing out? Do others sense that the last batch of students is one of the best in years?
PS- It was such a delight to be mobbed after the class and have 5 students wanting to speak to me!

By: CGabriel

CGabriel — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:23:52 +0000

Thank you, Adam. And yes, you’re so right – they make an incredible difference in our lives. They don’t often realize it until they get a bit older, but that’s ok. I have no problem telling them directly.

By: Adam Shake

Adam Shake — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:47:51 +0000

Bravo my friend. Bravo. Both for you for having given of yourself like you so often do, and bravo to them for having realized the difference that you made in their lives.

If they only knew how often they make a difference in our own, yes?

By: CGabriel

CGabriel — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:13:20 +0000

Mike, to watch a young person finally “get” something…to see the overwhelming joy on the face of one of these students when they make a breakthrough, whether it’s the first class of week one or the last class of week 18…and, especially, to watch them get so excited for one of their classmates when they do beautiful work……. it’s those moments one never forgets. It’s those moments I find myself thinking “how lucky am I, to be a part of this?”

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:30:56 +0000

The fact that you made that kind of impression on teenagers of that age group is astounding to me. Not just anyone can do that; what you’ve accomplished is truly something special. It’s also refreshing to see a guy who truly cares about what he teaches, and more importantly, the people he teaches. So many people are in it for the money or for the “pats on the back” these days. Not many people can tell you that they are in it to touch lives and be perfectly honest with themselves.

By: CGabriel

CGabriel — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:02:43 +0000

Thank you Terri and de-I. Both of you have more than a little experience with kids so you know…you understand. The vast majority of the time, kids simply need someone to have a little faith in them and then, they absolutely take off. They channel their amazing energy and creativity into remarkable accomplishments.

By: territerri

territerri — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:46:50 +0000

It takes someone special, with a big heart, to make that kind of impression on a group of kids; especially kids in that particular age group. It’s precisely at that time in their lives that they begin to doubt themselves and distrust much of what the world wants them to believe. It’s easy for them to become jaded and cynical. But you made them feel important. You helped them accomplish their goals and made them believe in themselves. Pat yourself on the back, Mr. Gabriel. Not many are capable of doing what you’ve done with these kids.

By: de-I

de-I — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:27:14 +0000

It is those we actually touch each day that people need to focus on not all the hub bub around us that we couldn’t influence if we tried. You obviously have totally imbibed that lesson and made it part of you. Well done.