“Great teachers had great personalities and that the greatest teachers had outrageous personalities. I did not like decorum or rectitude in a classroom; I preferred a highly oxygenated atmosphere, a climate of intemperance, rhetoric, and feverish melodrama. And I wanted my teachers to make me smart. A great teacher is my adversary, my conqueror, commissioned to chastise me. He leaves me tame and grateful for the new language he has purloined from other kings whose granaries are filled and whose libraries are famous. He tells me that teaching is the art of theft: of knowing what to steal and from whom. Bad teachers do not touch me; the great ones never leave me. They ride with me during all my days, and I pass on to others what they have imparted to me. I exchange their handy gifts with strangers on trains, and I pretend the gifts are mine. I steal from the great teachers. And the truly wonderful thing about them is they would applaud my theft, laugh at the thought of it, realizing they had taught me their larcenous skills well.”
Quote Analysis:
In this quote by Pat Conroy, the author expresses his belief in the importance of great teachers with outrageous personalities who challenge and push their students to excel. He values a teaching environment that is energetic, dynamic, and intellectually stimulating, rather than one characterized by strict decorum. Conroy sees great teachers as adversaries who push their students to their limits and ultimately leave them grateful for the knowledge they have acquired. He compares the art of teaching to theft, emphasizing the importance of learning from great teachers and passing on that knowledge to others. Conroy's admiration for great teachers extends to their willingness to encourage their students to "steal" knowledge and skills, knowing that it is a sign of their own success as educators. This quote highlights the transformative power of great teachers and the lasting impact they have on their students.
Modern Relevance:
In today's fast-paced and constantly evolving world, the traditional idea of a great teacher with a strict demeanor and decorum may not always resonate with students. Pat Conroy's perspective on great teachers having outrageous personalities and creating an atmosphere of excitement and intensity speaks to the need for dynamic and engaging educators in the modern classroom. The emphasis on teachers who challenge and push students to think critically and learn from a variety of sources highlights the importance of innovative and adaptable teaching methods in preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century. Students who are inspired by passionate and daring teachers are more likely to be motivated and engaged in their own learning journey, leading to a greater impact and lasting influence on their lives.
Example of Usage
In his book, "My Reading Life," Pat Conroy reflects on the impact of great teachers and the importance of their personalities in shaping the minds of their students. He emphasizes the idea that truly exceptional teachers embody a sense of rebelliousness, passion, and an unorthodox approach to education. The quote illustrates Conroy's belief that the best teachers are those who challenge, inspire, and ultimately transform their students through their unique and sometimes unconventional methods.
Reflection Questions:
Reflecting on this quote by Pat Conroy, consider the following questions:
- What qualities do you believe make a great teacher?
- How do you view the idea of a teacher being your "adversary" and "conqueror" in the pursuit of learning?
- In what ways have great teachers impacted your life and shaped your education?
- Do you agree with the notion that teaching is the art of theft? Why or why not?
- How do you think great teachers inspire and influence others, even beyond their direct students?
- How can you apply the concept of "stealing" from great teachers in your own learning and personal growth?
Similar quotes
“What had I seen? Too much. What did I know? Only that knowledge carries a damned high price. Miss Wilcox, my teacher, had taught me so much. Why had she never taught me that?”
“There is an incident which occurred at the examination during my first year at the high school and which is worth recording. Mr. Giles, the Educational Inspector, had come on a visit of inspection. He had set us five words to write as a spelling exercise. One of the words was 'kettle'. I had mis-spelt it. The teacher tried to prompt me with the point of his boot, but I would not be prompted. It was beyond me to see that he wanted me to copy the spelling from my neighbour's slate, for I had thought that the teacher was there to supervise us against copying. The result was that all the boys, except myself, were found to have spelt every word correctly. Only I had been stupid. The teacher tried later to bring this stupidity home to me, but without effect. I never could learn the art of 'copying'. ”
“My Teacher Sees Right Through MeI didn’t do my homework.My teacher asked me, “Why?”I answered him, “It’s much too hard.”He said, “You didn’t try.” I told him, “My dog ate it.”He said, “You have no dog.”I said, “I went out running.”He said, “You never jog.” I told him, “I had chores to do.”He said, “You watched TV.”I said, “I saw the doctor.”He said, “You were with me.” My teacher sees right through my fibs,which makes me very sad.It’s hard to fool the teacherwhen the teacher is your dad.”
“I would go to parties and say I was an editor, and people, especially women – and that was important to me back then – would say, “Oh, really?” and raise their eyebrows and look at me a little more carefully. I remember the first party I went to after I became a teacher, someone asked me what I did for a living, and I said, “Well, I teach high school.” He looked over my shoulder, nodded his head, said, “I went to high school,” and walked away.Once I repeated this anecdote around a big table full of Mexican food in the garden at a place called La Choza in Chicago, and Becky Mueller, another teacher at the school, said that I was a “storyteller.” I liked that. I was looking for something to be other than “just” a teacher, and “storyteller” felt about right. I am a teacher and a storyteller in that order. I have made my living and my real contribution to my community as a teacher, and I have been very lucky to have found that calling, but all through the years I have entertained myself and occasionally other people by telling stories.”
“Like any teenager who reads The Great Gatsby, probably, I was madly in love with the teacher who had opened it up for me.”