As a student, I find that it is easy to recognize teachers who do their job well. I appreciate it when my peers comment on their favorite teachers, expressing how so-and-so “makes learning fun” or “teaches the information well.” Nevertheless, each opinion that follows should be taken with a grain of salt: everyone has a different idea about “good” teachers. Though the following interviews highlight some students’ opinions of their favorite teachers, we should remember that every educator in Mountain Lakes High School plays a role in our community. If a teacher doesn’t make the list, that does not necessarily mean that they aren’t a good teacher. After all, most teachers are excluded because none of the students that I interviewed take any classes with them.
Funny Times
Some teachers have found that students focus best when they’re laughing. Mr. Ziccardi, the Grand Vizier, has found considerable success with this technique. “He really adheres to that, uh, Bloom’s Taxonomy thing,” remarked one student. He has gained a reputation throughout the school for his cricket bats, his sarcasm, and his chutzpah. “Trust, but verify,” he affirms every day, sometimes in Russian, pointing to his print-out of Ronald Reagan on the wall.
Mr. Wallace and Mr. Hanisch are esteemed for their comedic talent. One student noted that “[Mr. Wallace] has a great sense of humor and gives you help if you need it,” while another recognized that Mr. Hanisch is “funny and interactive” with his students.
Let Us Speak!
By far, the teaching practice that students emphasize most is interactivity and student participation. James Purcell attested that “a teacher should be passionate above all. Nobody likes a teacher that’s heavy and boring.” He added that his least favorite class “has the same general flow…maybe there’s not a lot of effort being put into every lesson.” He shared his respect and appreciation for Mr. Horn, whose class is more oriented towards creative and hands-on learning. Mr. Horn might tell you to ‘get back to work,’ or he might call you an ‘interesting student,’ but every Computer Science student knows he truly cares about you.
Most students seem to prefer unique, engaging styles of teaching instead of classes that “revolve around notes,” as Lilia Trogani put it. Eric Lee remarked that teachers should encourage question-asking; in another sense, the class should become more centered around the student. In addition, some students agreed that Dr. Hittinger’s class thrives because it “is very interesting and engaging.” Also, take Latin.
Easy A?
Overall, this issue proved to be the most controversial. One student believed that a teacher should “be strict and not wishy-washy; they should not change and be consistent.” In contrast, Anita Shanker disagreed, explaining that a class like Advanced Foods with Mrs. Fiorina is “a relaxing time [and] an escape from all of [the] academic classes.” However, she affirms that classes should not be incredibly laid-back and easy; these classes, she says, encourage grade inflation and cause students to “not care about actually learning.” Generally, respondents agreed that teachers should not hand out free A’s, a rule that Mr. Terzis lives by. He believes that students should earn their grade. You go, Terzis!
Life Lessons
Finally, we sometimes forget that students and teachers share the same space. While there should be a distance between the two, many feel that teachers should have a balanced relationship with their students. Mr. Leo (former member of The Triumvirate) was an advocate of practical learning: while the student is at school to learn information, they are also there to learn about life. In his class, Anita Shanker “realized learning in school is not just about grades.” She goes on to say that teachers should sympathize and treat students like adults, also keeping in mind the workload that high schoolers have to bear.
So what is the answer?
For a teacher reading this, it would seem impossible to incorporate all of these ideas in the classroom. That’s because it is. Thus, it can be inferred that every teaching style should be different and unique in its own way. We can learn from these interviewees not only what the students feel but how much opinions can differ on the matter of education. Still, it is important that we recognize the strengths and weaknesses of our teachers and how we can improve our high school for both the faculty and the student body.
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