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Good teachers make a difference
The thing about being an extraordinary teacher who challenges students to bring their "A" game to class every day is that it's an awful lot of work to be demanding. To require the best of every student takes a tremendous effort from the teacher. Teaching is always hard work, but the easiest route is to be least demanding, to let students slide along with an average or less effort. It's easier because teachers don't make enemies that way, don't have angry parents after them, and don't make difficulties for their bosses. Class preparation and grading are easier too if a teacher isn't too demanding. Teachers who aren't demanding also don't make a lasting difference in the lives of students. When I was in college most classes were challenging, but one I remember particularly well. Dr. Baldwin taught Organic Chemistry, a difficult subject with even the most lenient of professors. Well, Dr. Baldwin was anything but lenient. He was late in his career when I encountered him, probably in his early 60's. He was tall, heavy, and severe, he spoke with a deep raspy baritone and did not suffer foolishness in his classroom - ever. After a particularly difficult exam, my paper was returned and I viewed my grade with the usual mix of frustration and anger. I studied so hard for that exam, and was certain I could ace the test. When I looked through the exam at the copious red pen marks I realized with satisfaction that good old Dr. Baldwin had erred. He had clearly marked a question incorrect in error; I found the passage in my text book that contradicted his grading of my paper. With my confidence bolstered by indignation at his grading error, I marched to his office and gave him an account of his mistake. He invited me into his small, claustrophobic office and shut the door. He reached into his desk drawer and produced a sizeable stogie and took his leisurely time lighting it. He seemed to revel in the opportunity to have a smarty green student come and challenge his examination. The smoke in the office grew thick quickly and my view of Dr. Baldwin came through the haze of his cigar smoke. He reviewed my test silently for a few minutes, not just the issue I raised, but the entire test as though he were reminding himself of the level of my weakness in organic chemistry. Finally, he looked up and said, "I marked the problem incorrect because your answer was incorrect!" "Well," I said, indignantly as I choked on the thickening smoke, "Our text book clearly supports what I wrote on my test," and I opened my book to show him the pertinent text. He just waved me off and said, "Don't you have better sense than to believe everything you read? You should've recognized that it was an error in the text." He stood up and took another several inch thick organic chemistry book from his shelf, thumbed through it for a moment and found the relevant section. "Read this," he exclaimed. It did seem to support his position on the matter. Dr. Baldwin took the book back from me and wrote with a flourish an inscription in the book to me and handed it back. "In the future, you will be better served to check your facts from more than one source," he barked. I took the book, stood and stumbled through the smoke back into the hallway gulping the fresh air and fuming, enraged at his response. I was so clearly right that I thought to take the matter up with the dean. Later as I read his inscription, "A gift to Mr. Bolton with my compliments, search and learn, Dr. A. Baldwin" I cooled and decided to let the matter drop. Dr. Baldwin continued to challenge me, and often called on me in a room of several hundred students after that day. I went along, but with a seed of bitterness still present. I regret now how I earnestly advised younger students to avoid Dr. Baldwin like the plague. Those who listened to me were robbed of the experience of being in an exceptionally accomplished and demanding teacher's class. Dr. Baldwin passed away the year I finished my Ph. D., probably as a result of those awful cigars. What I wrongly perceived as arrogance and callousness on his part was really part of a valuable lesson to me. I still have the book he gave me and wouldn't trade it today. Because of course, he was right, even if I wasn't wrong. Ultimately, I was better off for having been in his class not so much for the organic chemistry I learned but more for the life lesson. Teachers, grossly underpaid in dollars, are still incredibly rich in opportunities to impact lives and change the world. Today value most those teachers who were hardest on me and who wouldn't accept my mediocre efforts but demanded the best that I could give. Parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, 4-H and church leaders, remember those who touched your life when you were young and honor them by making a difference today.--Lance Bolton is a guest columnist.
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