“I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.”

~Lily Tomlin as “Edith Ann”

A teaching colleague of mine who worked with me when I was in a middle school environment, informed me that she was leaving the school to take a job as an administrator.  This often happens to middle school teachers as they burn out in the trenches of the classroom.  I was sad to see her leave teaching because she was very good at teaching math, and most students loved her.  I overheard one student in a conversation with his friend, lamenting the news of her leaving.  “I hate Ms. Farmer is leaving.  She was the best teacher I ever had,” he said.  To which his friend replied, “Really?  I never had her.  What was so great about her?”  I waited to hear the answer I expected about what a great way she had of explaining math or of how she gave much one on one help with word problems, but instead this is what the student said:  “She can take a dry headache powder without any water and never even stop talking.”  I guess he didn’t realize that is the sign of one excellent, but burned out teacher!