"may i pour you some whine ?"

after 25 years of teaching at eiu it is difficult to pick a list of my favorite student comments (evaluations ?) about this course and concerning my teaching skills, but these citations are among my favorite --- that have been registered with department chairs - deans - presidents - and other professors.

"he's actually trying to teach us something. You tell him that this is a methods course and he shouldn't be doing that." (this was after my 5th day of teaching at eiu in 1970)
"he keeps saying that you can't be a great teacher unless you are living an interesting life. I don't plan to do anything interesting in my life but i like kids and will be a good teacher. I know it." (notice her admission that she would not be a great teacher)
"that final test wasn't anything that you could study for. It was all about thinking.
"you make him stop talking about the things his son and daughter have done. That's not important because they aren't teachers." (but they are risk-taking problem-solvers)
"dr. leyden ( a student said in class ) you're too smart to be an elementary teacher."
(Leyden note: i hope this woman is YOUR daughter's teacher. Spooky, eh?
"dr. leyden ( another student said in class ) don't you ever get tired of thinking ?"
(Leyden note: i hope this woman is YOUR son's teacher. Spooky, eh?
(after a lesson world population problems) "he said all women should have abortions because of population increases."
(8 minutes later another student who was in the same class as the one above - stormed into the same administrative hierarchal office and complained) "he's against a woman's right to choose an abortion and said they should be outlawed."
Leyden note: geez - i must have taught a 'netural' lesson.
"make him stop having such high standards. I only wanna be a teacher."
"i graduate on sunday ( a student said to me walking out the door on the last class ). How come you are the only teacher i ever had that said teachers have to be intelligent ? If that's so important - why don't our other professors talk about it ?"
Leyden note:
remember this this statement ?

"caring without knowlege is hollow."
Caring about / loving children will get you to 10:08 a.m. on the lst day of school. Then -- you'd better have something for them to do.
THAT requires knowldge.