Brandon Sun - PRINT EDITION
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
— William Arthur Ward, American author
Most of us, at some point in our educations, have had at least one teacher who made a lasting impression upon us, whether in elementary school, high school or college and university.
Perhaps it was a homeroom teacher who found a way to engage your young mind using the latest education technology. A quirky science teacher who made the school day a little less mundane with his dry wit and a closet full of outlandish ties.
Or maybe it was a teacher who simply showed some understanding and compassion when you needed it most.
Whatever the case, these people helped guide us in ways we may not even fully realize and not because it was just part of their job. We remember them because they showed a passion for education and a dedication to the students under their charge. That’s what makes them memorable.
On Saturday, the Sun reported that two Westman teachers were recognized by Prime Minister Stephen Harper for their innovative teaching styles and the passion that they have displayed for their work.
Linda Dinsdale, a Grade 1 French immersion teacher at École New Era School, and Devon Caldwell, a kindergarten teacher at Oak Lake Community School, both received the Manitoba Certificate of Achievement as part of the 2012 Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence.
These two teachers have done their best to create an interesting and memorable learning experience for their students.
Dinsdale, who has been teaching for more than 30 years and who incorporates information and communications technology in her classroom, was nominated for the award by a colleague.
“Linda is fantastic and she is so … incredibly deserving of this recognition,” New Era principal Chad Cobbe said. “I have had the opportunity to work with a teacher now for a couple of years who I’ve seen, before my eyes, completely revolutionize her approach in the classroom, in an excited sort of way, in an incredibly enthusiastic sort of way.”
In Oak Lake, Caldwell has used iPads, iPods, Skype and Twitter to help her students reach out to other classrooms around the world under the Little Hands, Big World project, which also netted her a 2012 Canadian Microsoft Innovative Educators’ Award.
Yet, by Caldwell’s own admission, technology doesn’t take the place of hands-on learning. And in our opinion, neither does it replace the need for strong and energetic instruction in our classrooms.
While not all have won awards, like Caldwell and Dinsdale there are many good teachers in our schools who have taken it upon themselves to educate our children.
A large number of them volunteer their time for extracurricular activities outside of normal school hours, devoting a great deal of their time and energy in the process.
And they do so year in and year out.
Teaching won’t make them rich, or famous — well, perhaps fleetingly so.
Nevertheless, we owe them a debt of gratitude for their leadership and dedication, for the lessons learned and the lasting memories they gave us.
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition October 15, 2012
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“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
— William Arthur Ward, American author
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“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
— William Arthur Ward, American author
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