I'm going to ask all of you for a favor: E-mail a former teacher.

[Pale Blue Dot]

I just became a teacher this year, and I was so inspired by the experience that I looked up a former teacher of mine and sent her an email yesterday.

I don't want to copy her response here, but let me assure you that there is nothing that satisfies a teacher more than knowing that he/she made an impact on a student's life. If you had such a teacher, please let them know today.

[jobycom]

1. Hmm. I think that may violate my parole. Do restraining orders apply to email?

Dear teacher,

Bet you never thought I'd have the nerve to write to you again. You know who this is, but for security reasons I will not use my name, nor my correct email address. Relax, this isn't like the other letters, and phone calls, and personal visits, and I promise I haven't even driven by your new house. It looks nice from the top, though--have you ever used Google Earth?

Did you get a new cat? I swear that was an accident. Well, part of it, anyway. Let's be real, cats can't actually tie knots. I only ask because from the satellite imagery, I think I can see one curled up on your new car hood. It looks like a piece of junk--the car, that is. I thought insurance would have paid for a better one.

Wow. Three years in your class. Most of my marriages have not lasted that long. Three and a half years, really, but officially the last three months didn't count, because of the wig and assumed name. I thank you for keeping my secret for so long. I wouldn't have really burned your house, you know. I mean, I had an alibi, no matter what the court said. Weird coincidence, wasn't it? Anyway, you aren't the one who betrayed my identity, I know now. Speaking of which, do you know what name Timmy Johnson is using? Those online people search methods don't really work, you know.

Just wanted to let you know I am still thinking about you, and I no longer hold a grudge. Three freaking years of my life. Thanks for teaching me the nature of potassium. Again, sorry about your house. But it wasn't me.

Forever there,
Jobycom
Somewhere in Uruguay, for now.

[Bunny]

2. .

:spray: :rofl:

[jobycom]

3. Shwew.

I was a little worried. Senses of humor aren't as open tonight as they usually are.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

10. That

is fucking funny

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[TZ]

4. I think most of the teachers that influenced me are retired now..

But having a parent for a teacher, I do appreciate the sentiment....maybe I will look up to see if I can find any...

[lizziegrace]

5. I did one better ;-)

I've been talking to my third grade teacher occasionally for the last 2 years. I've lived in 10 states since, but she worked in the same district as my mother's cousin, who passed away unexpectedly in January.

I got to spend time with her and her sister (who's also a teacher) and several others I remembered growing up at the funeral visitation. She got to meet Lelapin too, which was very special. Yes, I'm 47, but she swears she was a prodigy and was teaching when she was 15...

She's one of the funniest people I've ever met and the years have been kind to her. We're supposed to go outlet shopping sometime next month. Should be a hoot.

:hug:

Thank you for reminding us...

[Ellen Forradalom]

6. I stay in touch with my son's first-grade teacher

She very much appreciates the updates on her little scholar.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

7. I did that with my high school civics teacher.

She is a key reason where I'm at right now, and I let her know that I appreciated her for that.

She was quite flattered by that.

I actually was invited to come back to speak to her current class about my career. It was a great experience.

[distantearlywarning]

8. I just wrote my old HS English teacher a letter and mailed it.

Thanks for prompting me to do this this morning.

[Zoigal]

9. Thank you for this suggestion, FF

You are so right. We seldom get much positive feedback. z

[BeachBaby]

11. I did it!!!!!

It's been a long time coming, anyway.

I pulled up the school's website first, never really expecting her to still be there. I was going to pull up the phone number of the school and ask them to help me find her, when I saw her name listed under "Teaching Staff". Holy cow!

She taught me in 2nd grade (1976-1977). To this day, she still stands out in my mind.

Thanks for the inspiration - I hope I hear back from her!!!! :)

[QueenOfCalifornia]

12. hmmmmm

I am 51 - My teachers, except HS and college are dead or so old they wouldn't recall who I am.

I did however track down a teacher who had terrorized me in the 7th grade. I was a very abused child at home and this teacher knew it - so she could see the weakness in me... She would slap me and one day she grabbed me by my throat and slammed my head into a locker repeatedly - Her anger at her own life came out and she projected it on me. I was terrified to go to her class and would scrunch down in my chair and try not to breath. I would literally try to disappear. She would walk to the back of the room and grab me by my neck and yank me up and scream about sloppy posture. She belittled me in front of my peers and called me stupid... And so I did "look her up" quite a few years after I had graduated from college with a BA in behavioral psychology which I achieved when I was 19.... (I looked her up while in my 30's) She was old and still the meanest bitch on the planet. I asked her if she remembered me. She actually did remember me but she didn't remember all the terrible things she had done to steal my last shred of self respect. She didn't remember the horrible things she said and how she laughed at me when she would make me cry. She just remembered me as the kid who didn't have any friends and who sat in the back of the class and who had the bad haircut and often came to school with black eyes and fat lips. What a hateful woman she was. I confronted her with the truth and told her she had given me nightmares and had emotionally and physically abused me and had made 7th grade even more awkward and uncomfortable than it normally is. I told her how she had scarred me for life.

So, does that count?

Wish I could go back in time and tell my kindergarten teacher that I still love her!

I have 2 kids, a daughter who is 7 and an 8 year old son - I appreciate their teachers and let them know often. I have had them to dinner and have tried to make them realize just how special they are. I have done this with all of their teachers since kindergarten. I am not a perfect Mom but I work hard at changing generations of abuse and broke the chain.

[Ariana Celeste]

13. I did that a couple years ago

Wrote to my high school Creative Writing teacher. He was one cool guy, that's for damned sure.

[blueraven95]

14. This is a fantastic idea...

My grandmother taught in an inner city school (as she called it) about 50 years ago. Last year, a former student from her last class looked her up and contacted her, to thank her for for changing his life. He managed to organize a small class reunion at her house (because she is no longer able to get around so well) and people flew in from all over the country.

I can't tell you how wonderful it made her feel. I wish I knew the guy who set the ball rolling and paid for it all - I would send him a thank you card.