Terrence Foushee - On teaching English (clip)

Kathryn Wall (KW): Do you remember, all those English teachers that had an impact, what was it about English that kind of captured your imagination, what did they do that sparked that love of the language and literature?

Terrence Foushee (TF): I think that's an interesting question, especially because you said, of the language and literature, because pretty much throughout middle school and high school I hated reading. So I never gained an interest for reading, I don’t think at all, while I was in school, but as far as writing, and critical thinking, and sharing my thoughts and experiences, I thought that they were excellent in that regard. Ms. Lawson as an ELP teacher, which was more social studies. I think she helped me feel comfortable debating and I think that even though I didn't make the highest grades in her class, she always, one because I was an AVID student and because she was good friends with Joanne McClelland, she would always one, make sure that I sat in front of the classroom, and she always wanted to make sure that I was engaged and I thought that in some ways it helped develop my confidence, not necessarily in contributing, that was never much of my problem, but in being prepared in what I needed to say and that it wasn't just about me just being engaged but also making sure that I was contributing something that really added to whatever the conversation was in class. I think Ms. Works, going back to my seventh grade English teacher, she also I think saw something in me in how I would write and I think that she pushed me to be a deep thinker, and always expressed to me when she was disappointed in my behavior or my work, without fussing at me in a way that I think would shut me down. She had, I don't know, just this really sweet and nurturing soul but when she was disappointed you could feel it, and she wasn't afraid and didn't wait until you get to the point of no return in your behavior. She made sure that it was timely and I thought that was one of the reasons why I really appreciated her as a teacher.