"I’m grateful to anyone who steps up to be a teacher."

My kids love this story even though it horrifies them:

My grade 7 teacher was a nun called Sister Zelda. When she was angry, she’d march up to the plaster statue of Our Lady (readers who went to Catholic schools will know what I’m talking about), not to pray for patience, but to grab a plastic gladioli from the vase at Our Lady’s feet. The gladdy was nice and whippy, perfect for whacking the back of our knees.

It’s like something from a Roald Dahl story, but it’s true and it’s a great tale to tell when my kids complain about a tough day in the classroom.

My schooldays were not all horror-stories. I was blessed to have some wonderful teachers – most notably Mrs Sharpley in grade 5. Mrs Sharpley was young and groovy. She wore her long dark hair loose and let us call her ‘Anna’ outside the classroom.

On Thursday afternoons she introduced the ‘circle of friendship’. We’d sit cross-legged on the floor and tell the class our problems and share our triumphs.

“My parents won’t let me have my own room even though mum never sews in the sewing room.”

“I think I might make the North-West netball team.”

“The grade six girls bully me because I like ABBA.”

Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by OfficeMax.  But all opinions expressed by the author are 100 per cent authentic and written in their own words.

Mrs Sharpley was like an Oprah prototype. Funny, caring and wise. We loved the ‘circle of friendship’ and we loved her – and I think because of that year we became a very tight group, well able to withstand the rigors of Sister Zelda’s class a couple of years later.

Thankfully, my kids’ teachers so far have been more in the Mrs Sharpley mold than the Sister Zelda one. Some have been of the no-nonsense, no-kid-shocks-me approach and some have been fresh out of college, all enthusiasm and new ideas.

I’m grateful to anyone who steps up to be a teacher, and although I’m sure there are ‘bad’ ones out there, one has yet to cross my kids’ path. There have been a couple of standouts though… Like Katie Jordan, who taught my youngest in her first year of school. Friendly and funny and a beautiful singer, Miss Jordan went above and beyond. It was a tough year – a child in the class lost her mother after a terrible battle with cancer. Together with classroom assistant Mrs Brennan, Miss Jordan kept the class happy but gently aware of what was going on in Molly’s family – even bringing packed lunches every day for the little girl.

My 11-year-old had a fab teacher for grade 3. Ann Gole wouldn’t be offended if I described her as ‘old school’. I’m guessing she’s been teaching for more than 25 years, but she has the energy of a graduate. Combine that with experience and you have a fabulous teacher. And she’s love on legs.

“If you ever think no one loves you,” she tells the kids, “Remember, Mrs Gole loves you!”

Last year in his final year of primary school, my son had a teacher called (perfectly for this iGeneration) Mr Apps. Blokey but the opposite of boofhead, Mr Apps talked to the boys about becoming good men, about choosing friends wisely and that Vance Joy’s Riptide is a song worth downloading.

Every year, I see parents wringing their hands over who their kid’s classroom teacher will be. While I’d never want a Sister Zelda-type for my children, I think all teachers today have something to offer – even if it’s teaching kids how to get along with someone who might be stricter, funnier or crazier than the teacher they had last year.

The way I see it, school is about people and just as I want my kids appreciated as individuals, I like to see teachers the same way.

Who are the teachers who’ve made a difference to you or your kids? 

Check out these teacher e-cards, even if you aren’t a teacher you WILL laugh.

Exceptional teachers do more than just teach – they inspire, nurture and encourage students to build knowledge, confidence and life-skills.

A Day Made Better rewards and recognises exceptional primary school teachers across the country by giving them the recognition they deserve.

This year, ten exceptional teachers will be recognised for their inspirational work with a surprise event, $2,000 of OfficeMax arts, crafts, stationery and office supplies for their classroom, plus an Apple iPad.

So if you know of a primary school teacher that goes above and beyond in their classroom, show your support for them today at adaymadebetter.com.au

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