My experience came about in an indirect fashion ...one in Junior High, and one in High School. Though two different teachers, it was the same subject ...English class.

I don't know why English class was such an unpopular class ...but it seemed to draw a couple of very unpopular teachers.  One of the English teachers in High School was very popular and well-liked ...but the other one seemed to have a stigma similar to the one in Junior High, which I'm going to mention first.

I sort of felt sorry for the teacher.  Troublemakers do not always make trouble for everyone, but seem to often pick out certain students and certain teachers if they can get away with it.  They seem to know when they can get away with it ...and they certainly seemed to with the English teacher.  Most everyone enjoys a little chuckle at times ...but they seemed to be really cruel with some of the stunts they pulled.

My older brother had this teacher, then it was my turn ...and my sister was next. Not too long after that, the phone rang.  We were totally shocked when the English teacher called our home ...it was the last thing we'd expect.

Right from the start, it didn't seem to start out right.  Our name, Meiner, is of German descent ...but it seemed the English teacher felt it was French.  I know very little about French, but it sounded like he wanted to say something like Menoir, but when one of my parents answered, it came out more like, "Is this the Manure residents?"

My parents received the praise well ...even after what appeared to start out as an insult.  The English teacher went on to tell my parents how proud they should be to have three of the finest children that he has ever had the pleasure to teach.

I may be one of the only students who has a fond memory of this teacher, but after chuckling each time upon recalling the 'manure' pronunciation ...well, besides thinking well of the teacher, it kind of makes me a bit sad.

I realize often what a thankless job some of them experience ...and that it's not just the lasting impression they may have upon us, but also the lasting impression we may have upon them.