Ode to Miss Foley
Posted by tekkieteacher on November 15, 2007
Here is a wonderful song from educator Barry Lane honoring his favorite teacher, Miss Foley. Like Taylor Mali’s video, Lane emphasizes just how big a difference teachers really do make.
I know who my “Miss Foley” was. It was Mr. Dineen, my 9th grade World History teacher. For those of you who’ve been around a while, you know I started out my career in education as a History teacher. That’s because Mr. Dineen taught me that the study of History was not just worksheets and textbooks, but adventure-filled stories–the types of stories that fascinated the mind of a goofy little freshman like the one I was. I’ve been a History-geek ever since.
I know who my “Miss Foley” was. Who was yours?
Download Video: Posted by tekkieteacher at TeacherTube.com.
November 15th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Thanks for “reeling” me back in… this has been the type of week that I began to question my reasoning for teaching, but just as always— a word, a quote, today a SONG just in time to make me FOCUS on the big picture of why I decided to teach STUDENTS and not a subject! I am learning each day that it’s not about the tests, the scores, the hoops that we have to jump; it’s about the lives, the minds, and the people we touch daily.
P.S. Sooner or later they will learn to appreciate the gift of having the opportunity to learn.
Thank You
November 15th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Kim,
Thank YOU so much for the comment! I love it when the blog posts inspire other folks to share their thoughts.
It’s just too easy to forget why we are here, especially when there are so many outside forces that can distract us (testing, data, discipline, etc). As you say, it’s important to take some time and re-focus on what is really important. And I have to believe most of our students (as well as society as a whole) WILL learn to appreciate the opportunities teachers provide for them — hopefully sooner rather than later!
December 13th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Kim and I were talking after school today…lamenting over our students’ lack of motivation to do ANYTHING. I’ve had students who want to go to college but don’t want to put forth the effort to work for that acceptance letter. (And ask me for a letter of recommendation!) But when I stop to think about it, there are students who sit in front of me who truly want to be in school…the ones who soak up knowledge and hunger for more. It’s for those students that I changed careers and became a teacher. And I haven’t regretted it for a moment!
December 13th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Still doing the scavenger hunt, and not writing Christmas cards!
December 14th, 2007 at 9:43 am
This beats shopping-i’m feeling lucky
December 14th, 2007 at 11:36 am
My Miss Foley was my 10th grade English teacher. She sparked my love of reading. Isn’t it terrible that I can’t remember her name?
December 14th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Done in true Arlo Guthrie style.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
My Miss Foley was my ninth grade English teacher and debate coach. Even though I teach Social Studies, she created my love of class discussions and showed me how to be the kind of teacher who has discipline in the classroom, but also knows how to smile.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
This clip made me teary eyed - I had a Miss Foley - my high school 11th grade math teacher. I still think of him often. I really like this video - so two weeks ago I showed it to my classes at the end of class. They got the point of the video - and we talked about it afterward. Makes for good discussion - and kids do appreciate us, it’s just hard to them to communicate it sometimes.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
OLD DOG……STILL LEARNING NEW TRICKS.
I loooooove Miss Foley!!