OT: Former student makes me proud

J

Josh Feltman

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Feb 12, 2001
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Floyd was a student in a basic composition class I taught a few years ago. You can read about his success story right here. It's moments like this that make me proud to be a teacher.

--Josh
 
"An undisclosed amount of methamphetamine was reportedly found on the suspect,..."

If he was naked, where was this methamphetamine found?
 
Beautiful set-up, Josh. I was expecting a Walt Disney moment. :D


Ben? I had the same question, but then decided I didn't want an answer.
 
I'm sure you were an excellent teacher when your "star pupil" was under your tutaledge, and you still strive for the very best in your endeavors... :) Unfortunately, you can make em' thirsty, but can't make a horse drink once brought to the water. :rolleyes:

Great link, and it's definitely black humor... You probably have 100 to 1 more positve alumni; their success stories might strike us as rather mundane; sensationalism always does buy copy though! :D

Best wishes, Josh, and thanks for the enjoyable story! Don't give up hope! :D
 
Josh Feltman said:
Former student makes me proud

It's moments like this that make me proud to be a teacher.

--Josh
Click to expand...
Damn, Josh! I can see how it would!
He was probably thinking something like, "That Condayumed Josh Feltman ;muh ol' engrish teecher ;made me right all dem Mudder phuggin essrays and I'm so pissd and strung out I'm gonna take it out on da Sumbeetch down the block dat I's tink looks like em!!!!":rolleyes: :p :D ;)

We all have the ones that didn't listen.:(
 
Well, the last time one of my students was in the news, it was a sweet little gal who OD'd on GHB, the date rape drug, which has become quite popular as a recreational drug. She was well on her way to becoming a cheerleader for the Raiders, but sadly, her life was cut short. That one bothered me for a long time. Floyd is a good guy, not the sharpest tool in the shed, but a good heart I think. I was surprised at first to read of his exploits, but after some reflection, I guess I wasn't all that surprised. I hope he manages to get his life straightened out, because I think Danny is right. Poor dude is obviously hurting inside to pull crap like this.

--Josh
 
Please give us some more positive stories of your alumni; I'm sure it is quite an easy post...! :D
Best wishes, and thanks for the original post as well. :)
 
Let's see, positive stories. None of them are quite so dramatic as the examples provided by Floyd and Soraya, but I often run into former students on campus or around town, and many of them thank me for helping them with their writing and grammar skills. I remember one gal in particular, Tammy, who always sat in my class with a terrible scowl on her face. I figured for sure I was doing something wrong as a teacher. I ran into her the following semester and she stopped me in the cafeteria to thank me. She apologized for her grumpiness and explained that she'd been so angry in my class because she was having difficulty understanding the material, and she was pissed at me for forcing her to apply herself and learn it. She said that by the end of the class, though, she finally understood the basics of grammar--writing in complete sentences, etc., and that it had been a great help to her in her other classes. I could tell that she was genuinely appreciative, and I could also tell that it had been an empowering experience for her. I'd helped her understand something that years of schooling had not made clear, and it was a great feeling.

I teach a range of comp classes, everything from remedial grammar classes up to freshman composition, so I've seen a lot of kids progress from not being able to tell the diference between a noun and a verb to being able to write decent essays. I have quite a few repeat students every semester, which makes me feel like I must be doing something right.

--Josh
 
You're doing a great job, Josh, and earning your keep for sure! :cool: I do appreciate the stories the the bad boys/gals though... :D
 
Yeah, it's easy to make fun of a ridiculous incident like this, but I hope he straightens out. Most people turn to drugs to kill some sort of pain, and it spirals down from there.
 
And this happened on Normal Avenue, no less. Perhaps Naked Loon Drive was too far across town.

(Not trying to poke too much fun. Your former student seems to have some significant problems in his life.)

Jeremy
 
Josh the very fact you tried when so many others would have given up makes me damn proud to say that yeah I know of that Josh Feltman guy, he one of the good ones.
 
Josh Feltman said:
I'd helped her understand something that years of schooling had not made clear, and it was a great feeling.

I teach a range of comp classes, everything from remedial grammar classes up to freshman composition, so I've seen a lot of kids progress from not being able to tell the diference between a noun and a verb to being able to write decent essays. I have quite a few repeat students every semester, which makes me feel like I must be doing something right.

--Josh
Click to expand...
Josh, I couldn't tell you the difference between a noun and a verb. My reading and writing skills are quite lacking as well as my comprehension. I finally had to tell the teachers what they wanted to hear rather than what I felt when I read the stories they assigned in class for reading comprehension when I was going for my GED. I recall one story in particular about a boy that had started his life on a farm all free and happy and due to circumstances was forced to move to the city with his father, I think his mother died or something, anyway it wound up that his father was ran over by a team of horses and then trampled by a herd of pigs that a farmer had brought into the city to sell and was killed.
It was supposed to be a funny story but I found it very sad.
Being here on the forums and having a spell checker in MS Word has helped me improve a bit.:)

I wish I had of had a teacher like you as well as remaining in one place long enough for you to have done any good.:(
 
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