LETTER: The meaning of ‘teacher’

To the editor:

I once had a teacher at this university. Let me describe her. She knew me by name. She encouraged me to do my best. She complimented my efforts. She taught me with questions, with stories, with books. She facilitated discussion. She helped me learn things for myself. She brought who she really was to class, with real emotion, with real truth. And that made the subject glow and grow and become alive for me. She wanted me to find joy in learning. She was our advocate, she was our friend, and we all knew it. During five years at this institution, I have had many professors. But few teachers. Do you as a professor teach? Or do you profess to teach? In the end, will the trophy of most value to you be a book or journal with your name on it, a promotion or pay increase? Or will your greatest prize be the heart of a student, a heart on which your name will always be written? To those few who have taught people, not classes – thank you. You’ll always be written on my heart.

Ben Watkins