High Life A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Never Mind Teachers’ Pets; What About Pet Teachers?

Some say experience is the best teacher, but even those who search on their own seldom do so without something or someone serving as their guide.

With Wednesday being “Day of the Teacher,” Hot Topics asks, “What qualities make your favorite teacher so special?”

“My favorite teacher is special because he is fun and caring. He is very patient with his students and he’s like a dad to all of us. Too bad I don’t have him this year.”

Dorothy Young, 15,

junior, Bolsa Grande

“Fairness and equality.”

Jennifer Fleming, 18,

senior, El Modena

“She is willing to keep learning, intellectually and spiritually, both from books and from her students.”

Monica DeCasas, 17,

senior, Rosary

“Being able to talk to them as friends, not as teachers.”

Debbi Davidson, 14,

freshman, Cypress

“Being able to make the class more interesting and letting everyone participate so people can say what they feel.”

Catherine Clarke, 17,

junior, University

“A wider view of life than other teachers.”

Brian Kim, 15,

sophomore, St. Margaret’s

“She is not racist and keeps her mind open and receptive to the diversities of each of her students.”

Tina Celio, 17,

senior, Rosary

“He listens and understands and is willing to devote his career to my future.”

Christopher Balew, 17,

junior, Bolsa Grande

“She makes learning fun. She relates what we have to learn to how we are today. Another quality is that she is understanding about certain things.”

Jennifer Petrella, 15,

sophomore, Cypress

“Inspiring and interesting.”

Julia Beak, 18,

senior, El Modena

“His ability to make us find the knowledge for our education within ourselves.”

Rebecca Tabatzky, 17,

senior, St. Margaret’s

“Teachers who encourage everyone in the class to participate.”

Tina Takagi, 16,

junior, University

“She knows her material, is enthusiastic when she teaches and is always there to help without criticism.”

Rachel Schilling, 15,

sophomore, Rosary

“My favorite teacher acts like a student sometimes, has humor and knows what he’s talking about.”

Monika Stork, 16,

junior, Bolsa Grande

“When you feel like you’re friends with your teacher, or that you can talk to them at any time.”

Lisa Johnson, 14,

freshman, Cypress

“One who cares about teaching.”

Adam Montano, 15,

freshman, El Modena

“He has to be enthusiastic about the subject; his main goal is to make sure the students learn and can apply what they learn to their lives.”

Aurie Hsu, 17,

junior, St. Margaret’s

“The quality that makes a special teacher: a teacher who teaches you a good lesson in life.”

Hoang Ha, 18,

senior, Bolsa Grande

“Teachers who treat students like they are people, because most teachers think we are kindergartners; teachers who don’t complain about how much work they have.”

Suerie Moon, 16,

junior, University

“He is unique and profound.”

Alana Sinclair, 15,

freshman, St. Margaret’s

“She’s someone who keeps her subject interesting and doesn’t make her students bored.”

Katrina St. Paul, 16,

junior, Rosary

“He is always explanatory, a friend, a great teacher, always understandable, reasonable and a true, honest teacher.”

Susan Hudson, 17,

junior, Bolsa Grande

“A feeling of understanding their students’ problems and situations. A sense of humor makes teaching fun.”

Vanessa Sanchez, 18,

senior, Cypress

“He cares about the students.”

Lisa Kauffman, 16,

junior, El Modena

“The ability to relate and treat us like fellow adults rather than kids.”

Adam Chilvers, 17,

junior, St. Margaret’s

“The one quality that I find special in teachers is that they are interested in helping students and take time out to really make sure the students understand how to improve.”

Sheela Rao, 16,

junior, University

“She is understanding and patient, and knows what she’s teaching. She treats all her students equally, never singling anyone out.”

Polita Huff, 14,

freshman, Rosary

“A sense of humor, being understanding and fun are some qualities that make my favorite teacher so special.”

Kelly Miranda, 18,

senior, Cypress

“A good sense of humor.”

Bill Gibson, 17,

senior, El Modena

Next Week’s Hot Topic:

What would you like to tell your parents?

Responses gathered by Brandi Winemiller (Bolsa Grande), Blythe Latimer (Cypress), Lauren Walden (El Modena), Christine Madracki (Rosary), Brooke Lyons (St. Margaret’s) and Claudine Ko (University).