I am a teacher and I am a parent and I believe very strongly that in some way
believe very strongly that in some way
believe very strongly that in some way or another all of us are teachers and
or another all of us are teachers and
or another all of us are teachers and all of us are parents I would like you
all of us are parents I would like you
all of us are parents I would like you to close your eyes visualize the first
to close your eyes visualize the first
to close your eyes visualize the first time you looked into the eyes of a
time you looked into the eyes of a
time you looked into the eyes of a little baby or a small child see those
little baby or a small child see those
little baby or a small child see those eyes looking back up at you with trust
eyes looking back up at you with trust
eyes looking back up at you with trust and with innocence how do you feel
and with innocence how do you feel
and with innocence how do you feel joyful full of wonder perhaps some
joyful full of wonder perhaps some
joyful full of wonder perhaps some responsibility I’d like you to open your
responsibility I’d like you to open your
responsibility I’d like you to open your eyes now but keep the feeling with you
eyes now but keep the feeling with you
eyes now but keep the feeling with you my little Irish granny granny Brennan
my little Irish granny granny Brennan
my little Irish granny granny Brennan she came up to here when she was asked
she came up to here when she was asked
she came up to here when she was asked about pregnancy and childbirth she said
about pregnancy and childbirth she said
about pregnancy and childbirth she said pregnancy childbirth Oh darlin nine
pregnancy childbirth Oh darlin nine
pregnancy childbirth Oh darlin nine months of sea sickness was shipwreck at
months of sea sickness was shipwreck at
months of sea sickness was shipwreck at the end this coming from a woman who by
the end this coming from a woman who by
the end this coming from a woman who by that stage was already the mother of ten
that stage was already the mother of ten
that stage was already the mother of ten adult children and 46 grandchildren
adult children and 46 grandchildren
adult children and 46 grandchildren you see granny Brennan’s passion was for
you see granny Brennan’s passion was for
you see granny Brennan’s passion was for raising and for inspiring children I’d
raising and for inspiring children I’d
raising and for inspiring children I’d like you to think back to when you first
like you to think back to when you first
like you to think back to when you first discovered your passion for learning
discovered your passion for learning
discovered your passion for learning something yourselves it could have been
something yourselves it could have been
something yourselves it could have been in maths it could have been in sport
in maths it could have been in sport
in maths it could have been in sport maybe in music maybe even going up the
maybe in music maybe even going up the
maybe in music maybe even going up the next level on the plate on the
next level on the plate on the
next level on the plate on the PlayStation I don’t mind but just
PlayStation I don’t mind but just
PlayStation I don’t mind but just remember that fantastic feeling when you
remember that fantastic feeling when you
remember that fantastic feeling when you just got it it felt amazing
my passion is for words words and
my passion is for words words and learning languages why because they make
learning languages why because they make
learning languages why because they make those communications so easy the
those communications so easy the
those communications so easy the contacts between us we can step over the
contacts between us we can step over the
contacts between us we can step over the international boundaries we can
international boundaries we can
international boundaries we can appreciate the beauty in the world in so
appreciate the beauty in the world in so
appreciate the beauty in the world in so many different ways and so when it was
many different ways and so when it was
many different ways and so when it was that when I came to choose my profession
that when I came to choose my profession
that when I came to choose my profession I decided that I would dedicate my life
I decided that I would dedicate my life
I decided that I would dedicate my life to enabling children to communicate with
to enabling children to communicate with
to enabling children to communicate with one another and that’s how I became a
one another and that’s how I became a
one another and that’s how I became a teacher of French and of English
teacher of French and of English
teacher of French and of English [Music]
[Music]
[Music] so far so good cut four forward four
so far so good cut four forward four
so far so good cut four forward four years to the Midlands in England where I
years to the Midlands in England where I
years to the Midlands in England where I had gone for a new job tough school very
had gone for a new job tough school very
had gone for a new job tough school very tough kids but do you know what I wasn’t
tough kids but do you know what I wasn’t
tough kids but do you know what I wasn’t at all frightened in fact I was really
at all frightened in fact I was really
at all frightened in fact I was really enthusiastic because I thought do you
enthusiastic because I thought do you
enthusiastic because I thought do you know what I’m going to be able to give
know what I’m going to be able to give
know what I’m going to be able to give these students the keys to a brand new
these students the keys to a brand new
these students the keys to a brand new culture and a brand new world Borla
culture and a brand new world Borla
culture and a brand new world Borla class today we’re going to be studying
class today we’re going to be studying
class today we’re going to be studying verbs tell me something
verbs tell me something
verbs tell me something have you ever seen 35 14 year-olds jaws
have you ever seen 35 14 year-olds jaws
have you ever seen 35 14 year-olds jaws drop at the same time miss miss what’s a
drop at the same time miss miss what’s a
drop at the same time miss miss what’s a verb you don’t know what a verb is no
verb you don’t know what a verb is no
verb you don’t know what a verb is no miss what’s a verb alright we’ll have a
miss what’s a verb alright we’ll have a
miss what’s a verb alright we’ll have a quick verb lesson here we go I am
quick verb lesson here we go I am
quick verb lesson here we go I am waiting at the bus stop I’m going to
waiting at the bus stop I’m going to
waiting at the bus stop I’m going to leave out a word you waiting at the bus
leave out a word you waiting at the bus
leave out a word you waiting at the bus stop what’s the missing word miss miss
stop what’s the missing word miss miss
stop what’s the missing word miss miss exam you am waiting at the bus stop is
exam you am waiting at the bus stop is
exam you am waiting at the bus stop is Miss okay let’s try another example
Miss okay let’s try another example
Miss okay let’s try another example [Music]
[Music]
[Music] we
we
we waiting at the bus stop its am we wait
waiting at the bus stop its am we wait
waiting at the bus stop its am we wait that bus stop
okay and in that minute it hit me that
okay and in that minute it hit me that in that part of England the verb to be
in that part of England the verb to be
in that part of England the verb to be is regular well who was I to challenge
is regular well who was I to challenge
is regular well who was I to challenge this with my own cultural imperialism
this with my own cultural imperialism
this with my own cultural imperialism who was I to say hey guess what the verb
who was I to say hey guess what the verb
who was I to say hey guess what the verb to be is actually irregular actually I
to be is actually irregular actually I
to be is actually irregular actually I was pretty disappointed because I
was pretty disappointed because I
was pretty disappointed because I realized then that I was gonna have to
realized then that I was gonna have to
realized then that I was gonna have to work an awful lot harder to give them
work an awful lot harder to give them
work an awful lot harder to give them the keys to this new beautiful culture
the keys to this new beautiful culture
the keys to this new beautiful culture of France the keys
of France the keys
of France the keys the keys I’d locked my own keys in my
the keys I’d locked my own keys in my
the keys I’d locked my own keys in my car my little quite Volkswagen Beetle
car my little quite Volkswagen Beetle
car my little quite Volkswagen Beetle down on the carpark that morning when I
down on the carpark that morning when I
down on the carpark that morning when I slammed the door this what’s wrong I’ve
slammed the door this what’s wrong I’ve
slammed the door this what’s wrong I’ve locked my keys in the car Oh miss don’t
locked my keys in the car Oh miss don’t
locked my keys in the car Oh miss don’t you worry about that come on let’s go
you worry about that come on let’s go
you worry about that come on let’s go down the car now and open the beg your
down the car now and open the beg your
down the car now and open the beg your pardon two minutes later I found myself
pardon two minutes later I found myself
pardon two minutes later I found myself in the car park with the entire class
in the car park with the entire class
in the car park with the entire class surrounding the car from which magically
surrounding the car from which magically
surrounding the car from which magically the keys appeared and not a scratch
the keys appeared and not a scratch
the keys appeared and not a scratch [Music]
[Music]
[Music] not a scratch on the car this was a card
not a scratch on the car this was a card
not a scratch on the car this was a card that was sent to me by one of them
that was sent to me by one of them
that was sent to me by one of them shortly afterwards okay yeah yeah so
shortly afterwards okay yeah yeah so
shortly afterwards okay yeah yeah so from that I realized of course that we
from that I realized of course that we
from that I realized of course that we teach and we learn from one another and
teach and we learn from one another and
teach and we learn from one another and that was a moment of Epiphany because I
that was a moment of Epiphany because I
that was a moment of Epiphany because I realized then it wasn’t about the two
realized then it wasn’t about the two
realized then it wasn’t about the two pronouns I and they anymore no it was
pronouns I and they anymore no it was
pronouns I and they anymore no it was about we
about we
about we [Music]
[Music]
[Music] do you know the word parent comes from
do you know the word parent comes from
do you know the word parent comes from the latin word pereira which means not
the latin word pereira which means not
the latin word pereira which means not just to give birth but also to bring
just to give birth but also to bring
just to give birth but also to bring forth so I guess if we bring forth
forth so I guess if we bring forth
forth so I guess if we bring forth confidence in somebody to express
confidence in somebody to express
confidence in somebody to express themselves then
themselves then
themselves then in some way or another we are their
in some way or another we are their
in some way or another we are their parent the word discipline comes from
parent the word discipline comes from
parent the word discipline comes from the Latin word disk array meaning to
the Latin word disk array meaning to
the Latin word disk array meaning to learn and it doesn’t mean necessarily
learn and it doesn’t mean necessarily
learn and it doesn’t mean necessarily with punishment so once again if we
with punishment so once again if we
with punishment so once again if we empower somebody to understand that
empower somebody to understand that
empower somebody to understand that working at those hard skills of self
working at those hard skills of self
working at those hard skills of self discipline self learning are in fact
discipline self learning are in fact
discipline self learning are in fact just a way of bringing forward the
just a way of bringing forward the
just a way of bringing forward the understanding that there is really joy
understanding that there is really joy
understanding that there is really joy in autonomous learning we are their
in autonomous learning we are their
in autonomous learning we are their teacher the bottom line is this I really
teacher the bottom line is this I really
teacher the bottom line is this I really believe that you do not have to have a
believe that you do not have to have a
believe that you do not have to have a biological child to be a parent and in
biological child to be a parent and in
biological child to be a parent and in the same way I really believe that you
the same way I really believe that you
the same way I really believe that you do not have to have a teaching
do not have to have a teaching
do not have to have a teaching certificate to be a teacher well now one
certificate to be a teacher well now one
certificate to be a teacher well now one thing that life has taught me is this
thing that life has taught me is this
thing that life has taught me is this the best lessons come from the most
the best lessons come from the most
the best lessons come from the most spectacular failures how many of you
spectacular failures how many of you
spectacular failures how many of you have raced across the country to catch
have raced across the country to catch
have raced across the country to catch the ferry just in time to see it leaving
the ferry just in time to see it leaving
the ferry just in time to see it leaving from the port it happened to me only
from the port it happened to me only
from the port it happened to me only problem was I happen to be leading a
problem was I happen to be leading a
problem was I happen to be leading a school trip of 60 17 year-olds now
school trip of 60 17 year-olds now
school trip of 60 17 year-olds now trying in the bottom of a ship rocking
trying in the bottom of a ship rocking
trying in the bottom of a ship rocking and bucketing across the North Sea to
and bucketing across the North Sea to
and bucketing across the North Sea to keep these exuberant boys and girls aged
keep these exuberant boys and girls aged
keep these exuberant boys and girls aged 1760 of them still in the space trying
1760 of them still in the space trying
1760 of them still in the space trying to get them to sleep on those iron bunks
to get them to sleep on those iron bunks
to get them to sleep on those iron bunks stacked three on top of each other which
stacked three on top of each other which
stacked three on top of each other which are normally reserved for handcuffed
are normally reserved for handcuffed
are normally reserved for handcuffed football hooligan football hooligans I
football hooligan football hooligans I
football hooligan football hooligans I can tell you teaches you the skills of
can tell you teaches you the skills of
can tell you teaches you the skills of patience and of resilience
patience and of resilience
patience and of resilience or tell me this have you ever moved
or tell me this have you ever moved
or tell me this have you ever moved house and forgot to pack the baby
well I didn’t really forget to pack him
well I didn’t really forget to pack him I mean he was actually at six weeks old
I mean he was actually at six weeks old
I mean he was actually at six weeks old in his car seat it’s just I forgot to
in his car seat it’s just I forgot to
in his car seat it’s just I forgot to put the car seat into the car and
put the car seat into the car and
put the car seat into the car and driving down the road turning right and
driving down the road turning right and
driving down the road turning right and then left after that I was greeted with
then left after that I was greeted with
then left after that I was greeted with the course from the backseat from the
the course from the backseat from the
the course from the backseat from the five-year-old the seven-year-old and the
five-year-old the seven-year-old and the
five-year-old the seven-year-old and the nine-year-old mommy why have you left
nine-year-old mommy why have you left
nine-year-old mommy why have you left the baby behind what have you done with
the baby behind what have you done with
the baby behind what have you done with him true story
him true story
him true story let me tell you that took
let me tell you that took
let me tell you that took resourcefulness innovative thinking an
resourcefulness innovative thinking an
resourcefulness innovative thinking an awful lot of persuasive words I really
awful lot of persuasive words I really
awful lot of persuasive words I really really believe that in teaching we use
really believe that in teaching we use
really believe that in teaching we use words to spark the contacts to spark the
words to spark the contacts to spark the
words to spark the contacts to spark the inspiration and to spark that commitment
inspiration and to spark that commitment
inspiration and to spark that commitment to learning ourselves
you know what
you know what I think that education and and teaching
I think that education and and teaching
I think that education and and teaching gives us a ringside seat at an exquisite
gives us a ringside seat at an exquisite
gives us a ringside seat at an exquisite place regardless of location where we
place regardless of location where we
place regardless of location where we can nurture the child within the adult
can nurture the child within the adult
can nurture the child within the adult I’m so sorry we can nurture the adult
I’m so sorry we can nurture the adult
I’m so sorry we can nurture the adult within the child and at the same time
within the child and at the same time
within the child and at the same time have a glimpse of the child within the
have a glimpse of the child within the
have a glimpse of the child within the adult after 35 years of full-time
adult after 35 years of full-time
adult after 35 years of full-time teaching I can wholeheartedly say that
teaching I can wholeheartedly say that
teaching I can wholeheartedly say that it’s so worthwhile not to follow the job
it’s so worthwhile not to follow the job
it’s so worthwhile not to follow the job or the vocation but the life choice of
or the vocation but the life choice of
or the vocation but the life choice of being a teacher for the payment is in
being a teacher for the payment is in
being a teacher for the payment is in the parenting the bringing forth of the
the parenting the bringing forth of the
the parenting the bringing forth of the confidence in somebody so they can be a
confidence in somebody so they can be a
confidence in somebody so they can be a self disciplined creative and
self disciplined creative and
self disciplined creative and compassionate citizen that our troubled
compassionate citizen that our troubled
compassionate citizen that our troubled world needs so much well you might be
world needs so much well you might be
world needs so much well you might be saying yeah that’s fine that’s all well
saying yeah that’s fine that’s all well
saying yeah that’s fine that’s all well and good but how about the salary how
and good but how about the salary how
and good but how about the salary how about the hard work yeah okay hard work
about the hard work yeah okay hard work
about the hard work yeah okay hard work it is but there isn’t a single person
it is but there isn’t a single person
it is but there isn’t a single person here who doesn’t do hard work we just do
here who doesn’t do hard work we just do
here who doesn’t do hard work we just do it
it
it it’s hard work and as for the salary
it’s hard work and as for the salary
it’s hard work and as for the salary well many years ago I decided that I
well many years ago I decided that I
well many years ago I decided that I would count my salary as a reward for
would count my salary as a reward for
would count my salary as a reward for weekends and for the holidays you see
weekends and for the holidays you see
weekends and for the holidays you see being mindful of those many moments in
being mindful of those many moments in
being mindful of those many moments in the class and being and celebrating
the class and being and celebrating
the class and being and celebrating those minute moments in the class both
those minute moments in the class both
those minute moments in the class both inside the class and outside the class
inside the class and outside the class
inside the class and outside the class of joy of hope
of joy of hope
of joy of hope of triumph over failure was and still is
of triumph over failure was and still is
of triumph over failure was and still is recompense enough for the work of
recompense enough for the work of
recompense enough for the work of teaching let me tell you moments like
teaching let me tell you moments like
teaching let me tell you moments like observing our students making a real
observing our students making a real
observing our students making a real difference for the better in the lives
difference for the better in the lives
difference for the better in the lives of young refugees who have come here to
of young refugees who have come here to
of young refugees who have come here to live in Dusseldorf all moments like five
live in Dusseldorf all moments like five
live in Dusseldorf all moments like five o’clock last Sunday morning when I
o’clock last Sunday morning when I
o’clock last Sunday morning when I received an email from one of our former
received an email from one of our former
received an email from one of our former students from the other side of the
students from the other side of the
students from the other side of the world she had gone to Santiago and Chile
world she had gone to Santiago and Chile
world she had gone to Santiago and Chile and she was in the house of Pablo Neruda
and she was in the house of Pablo Neruda
and she was in the house of Pablo Neruda the wonderful poet whose poems we had
the wonderful poet whose poems we had
the wonderful poet whose poems we had studied and had come to love in class
one of my colleagues says that best
one of my colleagues says that best teachers are those who don’t only
teachers are those who don’t only
teachers are those who don’t only recognize what it is to be a parent but
recognize what it is to be a parent but
recognize what it is to be a parent but actually become a parent in their class
actually become a parent in their class
actually become a parent in their class my husband was an exceptional teacher
my husband was an exceptional teacher
my husband was an exceptional teacher one of those whose classes his students
one of those whose classes his students
one of those whose classes his students remember long after they’ve graduated
remember long after they’ve graduated
remember long after they’ve graduated from the school he’s known and loved
from the school he’s known and loved
from the school he’s known and loved around the world in January 2016 cradled
around the world in January 2016 cradled
around the world in January 2016 cradled in my arms
in my arms
in my arms having battles very bravely against
having battles very bravely against
having battles very bravely against Parkinson’s disease for ten years and
Parkinson’s disease for ten years and
Parkinson’s disease for ten years and Lewy body dementia for a further five
Lewy body dementia for a further five
Lewy body dementia for a further five years he looked up at me so gently and
years he looked up at me so gently and
years he looked up at me so gently and then he closed his eyes for the last
then he closed his eyes for the last
then he closed his eyes for the last time
but the letters and the emails from so
but the letters and the emails from so many of his students and mine brought
many of his students and mine brought
many of his students and mine brought him back to me such compassion such
him back to me such compassion such
him back to me such compassion such memories such love
memories such love
memories such love [Music]
[Music]
[Music] he’s still here teaching brought me
he’s still here teaching brought me
he’s still here teaching brought me through
through
through the hardest moments of my life teaching
the hardest moments of my life teaching
the hardest moments of my life teaching brought life back to me
I am constantly inspired by the new
I am constantly inspired by the new teachers those people who choose to
teachers those people who choose to
teachers those people who choose to become teachers these days that soon
become teachers these days that soon
become teachers these days that soon acity their application their vision one
acity their application their vision one
acity their application their vision one of my daughter’s is training to become a
of my daughter’s is training to become a
of my daughter’s is training to become a German and French teacher she shares
German and French teacher she shares
German and French teacher she shares with me her trials and tribulations but
with me her trials and tribulations but
with me her trials and tribulations but fortunately she also shares her triumphs
fortunately she also shares her triumphs
fortunately she also shares her triumphs here’s a thank you letter she got the
here’s a thank you letter she got the
here’s a thank you letter she got the other day from one of her students
after all who wouldn’t want to be as
after all who wouldn’t want to be as epically amazing as a unicorn I’d like
epically amazing as a unicorn I’d like
epically amazing as a unicorn I’d like you to go back now to that first vision
you to go back now to that first vision
you to go back now to that first vision that you had you were looking into the
that you had you were looking into the
that you had you were looking into the eyes of the little one the baby the
eyes of the little one the baby the
eyes of the little one the baby the young child or maybe even a new student
young child or maybe even a new student
young child or maybe even a new student of course we always experienced a huge
of course we always experienced a huge
of course we always experienced a huge whirlwind of emotions but in the middle
whirlwind of emotions but in the middle
whirlwind of emotions but in the middle of all of those emotions there’s a
of all of those emotions there’s a
of all of those emotions there’s a connection we are invited to bring out
connection we are invited to bring out
connection we are invited to bring out the goodness in each other
shortly before I gave birth to my second
shortly before I gave birth to my second baby I had the biggest crisis of
baby I had the biggest crisis of
baby I had the biggest crisis of confidence mom I love my first one so
confidence mom I love my first one so
confidence mom I love my first one so much I love 100% how can I possibly ever
much I love 100% how can I possibly ever
much I love 100% how can I possibly ever love a second baby as much don’t worry
love a second baby as much don’t worry
love a second baby as much don’t worry said my mom think of the words that
said my mom think of the words that
said my mom think of the words that granny Brennan said yeah sure with each
granny Brennan said yeah sure with each
granny Brennan said yeah sure with each child your heart grows it’s a wonderful
child your heart grows it’s a wonderful
child your heart grows it’s a wonderful thing
thing
thing I would like to individually thank each
I would like to individually thank each
I would like to individually thank each of the 4375 students whose lives have
of the 4375 students whose lives have
of the 4375 students whose lives have touched mine
touched mine
touched mine there are amazing parents the
there are amazing parents the
there are amazing parents the inspirational teachers around the world
inspirational teachers around the world
inspirational teachers around the world who still continue to make me want to
who still continue to make me want to
who still continue to make me want to become a better teacher I’d like to
become a better teacher I’d like to
become a better teacher I’d like to thank my own parents and my precious 4
thank my own parents and my precious 4
thank my own parents and my precious 4 children for giving me the opportunity
to parent to teach and to learn I am a
to parent to teach and to learn I am a parent
parent
parent I am a teacher
I am a teacher
I am a teacher I strongly believe that we are all
I strongly believe that we are all
I strongly believe that we are all parents we are all teachers so
parents we are all teachers so
parents we are all teachers so be that teacher be that parent after all
be that teacher be that parent after all
be that teacher be that parent after all with each child your heart will grow
with each child your heart will grow
with each child your heart will grow [Music]
”
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