Who Are Your Favorite and Least Favorite Teachers?
My all-time favorite teacher was my middle school debate instructor. His class wasn’t just about arguing points—it focused heavily on public speaking and the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) format. He was incredibly relaxed, passionate, and always willing to help. He never lost his temper or piled us with excessive homework, yet we always had something meaningful to work on. Thanks to his guidance, that school has maintained a strong speech and debate team for decades. He really helped me conquer my fear of public speaking.
On the other hand, my least favorite teacher was my 4th-grade instructor. I despised her so much, but I kept it to myself out of fear. She frequently took away our recess and assigned excessive homework while endlessly talking about her kids. That year, we barely covered math and English, rarely touching on subjects like science or history as other classes would. She also had a knack for yelling at young kids, cursing out parents, and even stealing students’ lunches to eat herself. If you stepped even slightly out of line, she would unleash her anger. A few years after I left, she was fired because nearly every student in her homeroom requested a transfer. We had only one teacher for about 20 kids, meaning we stayed in her classroom all day, aside from PE, fine arts, lunch, and recess. Roughly half my classmates ended up transferring, and new students were automatically placed in our underpopulated class. Unfortunately, I learned only one thing that year: how to dislike that teacher. Hope you all have a great day or night, wherever you are!
It sounds like your middle school debate teacher made a significant impact on your life! It must have been empowering to find your voice and overcome your fear of public speaking in such a supportive environment. It’s great to hear how his teaching style fostered a strong speech and debate culture at your school.
On the flip side, I can’t believe what you went through with your 4th-grade teacher! It’s shocking how some educators can have such a negative influence on students. It sounds like she created a really hostile environment, which is the complete opposite of what a teacher should provide. It’s a relief to hear she was eventually let go. You’re definitely not alone in having a “least favorite” teacher; many of us have had those experiences that shape how we view education. Thanks for sharing your stories!