September 28 is a Confucian Holiday celebrating the birth of
Confucius. It is also celebrated as Teachers' Day. While many confuse Confucius
ism with a religion, it is actually more of a philosophy. Confucius was not a
priest or a deity, he was a teacher.
Confucius was born
around 551 BC in the small state of Lu. He was born into an aristocratic
family, although there is debate as to whether he had any money or not. During
his life he served many influential people and his teachings became not only
fundamental to Confucian philosophy, but to the general Chinese philosophy.
The 6th century BC China was a time of political and social
disintegration. Battling officials trying to gain control led to a period of
great moral decline, when integrity and principles meant little to ruling
classes. Confucius was disgusted by this development. At the time, he was a
widely unknown teacher. He attempted to revive society by re-introducing the
great moral teachings of the past.
At the cornerstone
of his teachings was the belief that ethical considerations should be the
guiding principle of government. He did not accept the idea of a strict legal
system. He believed the primary task of a ruler was to achieve the welfare and
happiness of the people. The ruler should be a role model by monitoring his
personal behavior. His strong ethical behaviors would influence the people's
behaviors. Customs and voluntary adherence would be the best way to achieve and
maintain an orderly society.
Confucius never
wrote many of the quotations we see today. After his death, many of his
disciples gathered and compiled his teachings. Here are a few quotations:
"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two
graves."
"Forget injuries, never forget kindness."
"He who will not economize will have to agonize."
"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I
understand."
"Respect yourself and others will respect you."
Throughout
history, we have seen many teachers influence the world. Jesus, Martin Luther
King, Jr., Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Buddha, and Confucius have significantly
changed the world and redefined the way many of us view right from wrong.
Who are the teachers
in your life that have influenced you the most? What qualities do they have
that make them an effective and influential teacher? If possible, please
provide a couple of your favorite sayings learned from your teachers.
Nekane-Mrs.joy, Mrs.Violett, because they were the one who really prepared me for middle school. They both really thought subjects really well and taught us in a fun way so we understood the lesson better. Go big or go home, well heaven sakes.
ReplyDeleteNathaniel- Mrs Violette and Mr. Yanci are the teachers who have had the BIGGEST influences towards me. Mrs. Violette always made math fun, and interesting, while teaching us a lot at the same time. She was also kind, and noticed when someone helped another kid achieve any goal. Mr. Yanci, I feel, helped me be more comfortable to talk to teachers, and read in front of the class. If it wasn't for him, I would never have volunteered for any of the student council positions/speeches. Thank you both!
ReplyDeleteSean- A teacher can be more than a classroom teacher, they can be a mentor, a coach, an instructor, or just a role model. my 3 favorite teachers were Wayne Rummele, my airsoft mentor; "Now go camp up there and make a nifty little place to dig into." My Nordic ski teacher; "C'mon, It's just 5 miles!" and of course, Mr. Grant; "Todd, if you repeat another example I'm throwing an eraser at you."
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteLiza- okay that is awesome
DeleteWes- Mrs. Violette and Mrs. Russell are the teachers are the ones who have influenced me the most. Mrs. Violette made teaching math the best with all the enthusiasm she gave and Mrs. Russell for teaching religion and for making religion one of my favorite subjects in the 6th grade. Thanks for making math and religion a blast!
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to the football picture?!
Deletei dont know. what did happen o the football picture?-nikita
DeleteIt seems to have left you
DeleteMrs. Gamboa and a teacher from my old school, Mr. Targee. Mrs Gamboa has a way of teaching where she is humorous and can get things done. "Get it together 6G", and we knew that she wanted us to be quiet and get our behavior under control. Mr. Targee knew exactly how to teach a subject so you'd completely understand it in a couple of days. "Nothing is set in stone. You can get that C to an A if you try hard enough!", was what he said if someone in the class had gotten a C or lower on an assignment, and he wanted them to try harder. Both of these teachers have given me a different perspective on English and Reading.
ReplyDeleteSorry that was Natalie
DeleteRylie: One of most influential teacher was probably, Mrs. Violett. The qualities she has that have influenced me were, her sense of happiness. How she always had a smile on her face when we walked in. It made me want to smile. Being friendly is a great quality for teachers. Another one was how she was always nice. Even if you messed up or something, she would be there and make you feel better. She would always be open to what you had to say. Mrs. Violett had many great quotes, but unfortunately I cannot remember any of them. So I found a quote that, I think, suits her. "A mind once stretched by a new idea never regains its original dimensions."
ReplyDelete- Anonymous
Mrs Violette*
DeleteThomas-I think the two teachers that influenced me the most were Mrs.Violette and Mrs.Joy because they made the subject they were teaching fun, while preparing us for middle school. Some qualities they both had were that they would help you understand everything in an easy way and they would come up with unique ways to remember things, like Jepardy.
ReplyDeleteReed-I think that Mrs. Violette influenced me the most beacuse she wanted me to live life to the fullest but don't waste it without a job. She always made teaching fun for all the subjects. When she walked in she made everybody smile. She never had a bad mood or made anyone fell bad about them selfs. She believed in second chances. She had so many awesome qoutes but there are to many to remember but this one is my favorite she gave me. " I just do what i want. Its not about what people are saying. Its about me" - anoymones
ReplyDeleteJustin- Some of the biggest influencers in my life have been my football and basketball coaches. My most favorite football coach is called coach Mark. He pushes me to limits in my game that I didn't know was possible. "You hit him and you beat the piss out of him you hear me?" (Sorry about the language!) I forgot what my favorite basketball coach's name was but he coached me in fifth grade. He expected the best out of his player's and pushed us to the limits. "Did you just miss a layup? Have a good time running."
ReplyDeleteGrace- Parents, of course! From the very beginning, they have been teaching you everything, from how to talk to how to play soccer to how to do algebra. They are my primary teachers. My parents are patient and never give up on me. They keep trying to help me understand and to do my best. My parents love me, and that plays a big role in how they teach so well.
ReplyDeleteMom- "You don't have to win, but you have to want to win."
Dad- "If you turn a light on, turn it off."
Nathaniel- I'm appalled at how I never thought of this, or of coaches being teachers either... Nice job Grace.
DeleteHayley: Mrs. Violette because she helped me find my passion for math in the 5th grade. Mrs. Russel is keeping it going. They are kind and will help you through every step if you need it. I have learned no sayings from my favorite teachers expect I learned from Mr. Grant that Pepsi is "awesome"!
ReplyDeleteI have had many teachers influence me. One of the teachers who has really influenced me was Mrs. Violette. She always was in a good mood. She always made math fun, and kept us enjoying it. She could always put a smile on some ones face, and had the best stories. Mrs . Violette is a teacher that I will never forget. Another one of my favorite teahers is Mrs. Russel. She has taught me to never give up, and if you have good faith you can do anything. She is a great teacher and her classes are always something that i look forward to. I have no favorite quote from any of my favorite teachers.
ReplyDeleteSorry that was me Lily.
Deletelily, you have to put a picture back up! -nikita
DeleteNikita- Some of the teachers that influence my life are mostly my parents, who were the first "teachers" to teach me right from wrong, what's acceptable, what's not, etc. My parents are both patient, persistent, and will always love me, so they are good at drilling good values into our heads (or a math problem). They tell us to work hard and never give up and push us to do our best (us/our being my crazy siblings). Some of their quotes are:
ReplyDeleteMom- "Close but no cigar"
Dad- "The bacon's not burnt, that's just the brown sugar" (that's what he says when the bacon doesn't turn out right)
mom also says "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog."
DeleteAndoni- Over the years i have had many people that i look to for guidance. I found that there were two i could always depend on. One was Jesus Christ and the other is Mr Yanci. Jesus is a teacher to all people. He taught us how to live and why to live. I first had Mr yanci last year as a reading teacher. He always found a way to make the dull books seem interesting. I can always look forward to a laugh and a good time in his class.
ReplyDeleteJesus: I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Mr. Yanci: Tuck in your shirt! I am glad that i have been taught by two great teachers and hope to learn more from them.
Although I have had many great teachers thought my school years, one teacher that stands out is Mrs. Motsomoto, my fifth grade teacher in California.We shared a great love for science and math. Even though she never had any particular saying, it always felt like what she was saying to you in that moment was important.
ReplyDeleteThis is Ryan
DeleteLiza- nice Ryan reel nice. Smooth to i like
DeleteRaquel- Mrs. McClure is one of the teachers that got my attention from the beginning. Whenever she starts talking it just makes me want to listen to whatever she says. I now see science in a whole different perspective.I use to dislike science but now that I have Mrs. McClure as my teacher it's just awesome! I couldn't ask for anything more from a teacher.Mrs. McClure has the qualities of being funny, interesting and attention grabbing. Thanks Mrs. McClure for bringing out the best in the world of science.
ReplyDeleteKeelie: this might sound weird, but i would have to say my sisters are good teachers. they probably don't even know they teach me things. most of the things in my life i have done with them, so it is nearly impossible for them to not have taught me anything. rylie has a creative way of thinking that makes me look at things differently. this also may sound weird, but bailie is very calm and patient. she helps me when i don't get homework and she does a great job with helping me understand it.
ReplyDeleteLiam- My most inspiration teacher I've had is my dad, he has always inspired me to try new things with music, and has introduced me to millions of types of music. My dad was the person that got me into playing piano in the first place and he was always pushing me to play more, listen more, and preform more. And I feel like those are qualities that every student/son of a musician looks for without them pushing a bit too hard, which my dad never did. He never asked me to play a bunch of scales over and over again, he would say something along the lines of, "Hey Liam, if you really want to master this song you might need to do a recap on your sevenths, sixths, and ninths." And I would always practice those scales because he asked me to do it, not because he told me to do it. Some epic sayings from my dad are: "Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge" (lines on the royal staff) "Practice makes perfect" and "If all else fails go to the fake chart for the chords." I think that my dad is a great teacher for me because he is always asking me to play piano and he never commands it.
ReplyDeleteLiza- you are so nice, i like the idea of my dad teaching me piano. Unfortunately I already have a teacher.
DeletePatrick- My most inspirational teacher i have had is Mrs.McCulre. I almost had a heart attack last year during science Olympaid because I worked so hard to to great in all my events! Mrs.McCulre really made science fun and challenging and she definitely knows how to prepare us for high school if not college.One of my favorite quotes from her was Luck favors the prepared(during science olympiad) and everything should be science. I have had many other great teachers like all of them at St. Joes and they have helped a lot. Thanks Teachers!!!
ReplyDeleteClaire-The teachers who have influenced me the most would be my parents because they have taught me important things like how to behave and take care of myself and how to read and write but they have helped me with things like homework to. My parents have made my life fun and they have prepared me to do skills that I need for the rest of my life and I think thats important to be taught.
ReplyDeleteSydney- The teacher that has inspired me most is Mrs. McClure and my dance teacher Cathy. Mrs. McClure has taught me so much about science! The first day in 6th grade when we went to science, i instantly had so much fun with it! She makes learning science so much fun.Cathy was a professional ballet dancer. She inspires me so much! Although she retired from dance, she still is very flexible and still a very good dancer. One of my favorite sayings from Cathy is be strong like a russian bull or get back up and try again!
ReplyDeleteBailie- Others may be able to choose one teacher that have influenced them the most, but I can't. This is because everyone, even those who are not teachers, have had some influence on me. It might be as small as teaching me to play tag their way but they still had an influence over me.
ReplyDeleteLiza- That is sssoooo sweet. I like that.
DeleteJohn-The person who has inspired me most in my life is my Dad. My Dad teaches me a lot especially because he coaches me in football, for example how to throw the football, what your responsibility is in your postion,and how you can support your team in order to win but,that isn't everything he teaches me all sorts of things in life and how to do them. My Dad has helped me so much from doing this and thats why i'am capable of doing things in my life.
ReplyDeleteLiza- The teacher that inspired me the most was My kindergarten teacher. I forgot her name but she was really sweet. She would always encourage us to do her best, she also sweetened her class with candy. She loved watching us grow and she inspired me to help others through happiness and love. She was always there to listen to us and she never was mean in any way. She always was there for us. I think I found myself hanging out with her more than I did my friends! Some of her favorite sayings where "When you work your hardest you will be fully rewarded." She mostly ment if you o your work I'll give you candy. It is a good saying anyways. I miss her. She is retired and I haven't seen her since the 2nd grade. I hope I'll see her again.
ReplyDeleteLiza- I also loved learning with Mrs. Violet. I think I learned allot of the math i know from her.
DeleteLuke-The teachers who have influenced me the most would be Mrs. Violette and Mrs. Russell. Mrs. Violette works with people in all subjects and takes the time to help someone if they are struggling. Mrs. Russell is very nice and helped me get baptised and become a Catholic. They have great patience and listens to the student. I love them and will always remember the good times I had with them.
ReplyDeletePetie: I have had many teachers in my life but my dad is easily my favorite. I don't get to spend much time with him but when I do he teaches me a lot whether it is in school or at life. One of my favorite sayings from him is "There's a reason why the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror" I turn to that quote a lot!!
ReplyDeleteLauryn- At my old school, Mary McPherson, my second and third grade teacher influenced me in so many ways. His name was Mr. Reed. Not only did he make everything understandable but he was exited about everything. He was so hipper I didn’t even feel like I was in school, yet I learned so much from him. Mr. Reed was the teacher that I learned the most from.
ReplyDelete“I like pie”
“ahhhhhh”
“1,3,5,7,9, odd numbers squeeze a lime”
Those are a few things that he said often.
Todd-Mrs. Russell, Mrs. Brooks (from my old school), they make school fun to come too and made subjects fun that can be a little boring to some people” don’t forget to smile.
ReplyDeleteAdriana-Mrs.Viollett. I chose her because she was the one that made me want to come to math. She was really the only teacher that I really understood and if I had a question she would answer it right away with no hesitation and it would then make sense right after. She made all of her classes fun not just in math. Even though we had to do math homework every night it was still fun and when I wold get a problem wrong she would explain to me what I did do wrong and would give me advice and ways where I would remember when to do something or to not do something.
ReplyDeleteMegan-One of my best and favorite teachers was Mrs. Violet and Mrs. Russel They are all very good at explains things and have a good sense of humor. I feel like I can relate with them. I can't remember any quotes at the minute... Sorry
ReplyDelete