As a Trainer myself, I can honestly say that I get my greatest kicks out of witnessing the success of my students post-graduation. Every time I see a student doing well, I am reminded why I decided to get my TAE certification in the first place.
This week’s blog is a “tip of the hat” to just a few of the great teacher/student combos.
There is no way that I could write this blog and do it justice without kicking it off with the world changing Teacher and Student League of:
Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and Alexander the Great
Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher, who was born sometime around 470 BC and is considered one of the founders of western philosophy. That’s why Bill & Ted brought him back in their phone booth time machine to help pass their school history assessment.
Fictional portrayals aside, the truth is pretty cool itself. Socrates came from a humble existence. He worked as a stonemason and then became a citizen soldier where he is said to have shown great courage in performing his duties.
However, it was when he let loose with his philosophical aptitude that he really rose to prominence in Athens. He was an enigmatic character and he created no actual texts so what we know of his moral philosophy is what has been passed down by his students, including the impressive and equally as well-known Plato. Plato founded the first institution of higher learning in the western world – The Academy in Athens. Plato taught Aristotle, who went on to teach the world-conquering Alexander the Great.
Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller
I grew up with a set of short, written for children biographies about great historical figures. It was called the ‘Value’ series. I recently rediscovered them at a garage sale so I bought them for our kids. Our youngest child found the Helen Keller story to be her favourite of the series. Helen’s story was titled ‘The Value of Determination’.
Anne Sullivan, at the age of 6, contracted trachoma and she lost her eyesight as a result. Soon after that her mother died and soon after that her father abandoned his children. Anne went on to study and through sheer will she became a highly educated woman. She eventually became the teacher and life-long companion to Helen Keller.
The deaf and blind child Helen, who had grown frustratingly obstinate and prone to rage in the face of her heart-breaking trials, met her match in Anne, who as a teacher, was someone who was willing to really get to know her students in order to know how best to have learning breakthroughs. Anne’s teaching methods that she used on Helen were different to anything she had been taught and were personally designed for the young pupil. Helen went on to become an author and a speaker who, with her determined teacher, travelled the world where she met and even befriended world leaders, renowned figures, and celebrities.
Ip Man and Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee (born Lee Jun Fan) was for a long time, even many years after his death, inarguably the most famous martial artist in the world. He was the founder of the martial art Jeet Kune Do, and his fame exploded through film where he popularised martial arts in the west. He also helped change the stereotypical way Asians were portrayed in American Films (see Breakfast at Tiffanys for an example).
Bruce would have been nothing however without his great mentor, teacher and trainer Ip Man.
Ip Man, (who has had his own life explored in some awesome martial arts films,) was a Wing Chun expert. He not only passed his expertise of close range combat to his student Bruce, but the correct growth mindset and philosophy as well.
Good teachers know that curriculums are necessary guides to work through the system, but they also want their students to walk away with more than a piece of paper.
If you are ready to mentor, guide, train, teach and open the minds of eager students, contact us now for information on how you can couple your experience with a necessary qualification that will set you on that path.