There are two important roles that I think teachers play in their students life. Both of them help students become productive members of society, when they become adults, and thus make the world a better place. One, is to encourage students to believe in themselves and the other is to teach the standards and make sure the students understand them.
This is why history was so important to Mrs. Call. She would use her history lessons to teach her 5th Graders how to be better citizens and people. She also always had high expectations for them and expected them to reach them. She trusted the students to their best. Because she trusted them, even when they messed up, they learned to trust and believe in themselves.
I wasn't her student but she did the same thing for me. This might be a bit too personal for this class but when I started as Mrs. Call's TA I didn't believe in myself or trust myself at all. I had let myself down in a colossal way and I wasn't sure if I would ever recover. I had let go of my dreams or any ambitions for myself because I didn't believe I could accomplish them. But Mrs. Call expected my best, even just as her assistant, even when I messed up. Because she trusted me, because she had high expectations for me, I learned to trust myself and believe in myself again.
This is what a good teacher can do for you. And this is a good example of how Mrs. Call was with her students as well. Good teachers can give hope to the hopeless.
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