PREFACE
The desire to share my views on the teaching profession motivated me to undertake the project of writing my biography.
There have been occasions in my life when I have pondered over the question “DO TEACHERS REALLY COUNT?” Sometimes my answer is “definitely, yes.” Other times my answer is, “Maybe!!!”
What is your own answer to the question?
This project offers me the chance to express my own deep gratitude to all the professional teachers in my life.
You are my heroes and heroines. You have been the wind beneath my wings. Thank you!!!
Recollections of my experiences and views as a student in elementary, secondary and university levels contributed to my performance as a professional science teacher.
Reverend Father P. Murphy, my most favourite science teacher, had such a wonderful impact on me. This was in 1950, my first year in St. Augustine’s Secondary School in Cape Coast, Ghana (then known as the GOLD COAST).
After a few lessons on the composition of air, he informed us that we were going to prepare oxygen in our small school science laboratory the following week. That was my first real lesson in a laboratory to observe an experiment. It was a big deal for me. I anxiously waited and looked forward to that lesson.
In the laboratory, 24 young boys gathered around the demonstration bench. Fr. Murphy then mixed about a teaspoonful of a powder called Potassium Chlorate (KClO3) and a small amount of manganese dioxide in a big test tube. We were informed that the manganese dioxide was just a catalyst to hasten the reaction we were about to observe. He then set up the whole apparatus.
In 2012, I still have the vivid picture of the set up – almost sixty-two years since I saw that experiment. The mixture in the test tube was strongly heated with a bunsen burner. The gas that evolved was collected over water with a graduated cylinder.
The oxygen collected was then tested by plunging in a burning wooden splinter. It burst into an extremely beautiful bright white flame!!!
We were all amazed by this demonstration.
I repeated this demonstration many, many times in my teaching career. I am sure hundreds of my students enjoyed this science experience.
In 1945, as an 11-year old student in Standard Three, my class teacher, Ms. Dora Oluronkoya, taught us a song, which so impressed me that at age 77 I still enjoy to sing it with my deteriorating voice. The song is entitled When There is Love at Home.
There is beauty all around,
When there’s love at home;
There is joy in ev’ry sound,
When there’s love at home.
Peace and plenty here abide,
Smiling sweet on ev’ry side;
Time doth softly, sweetly glide,
When there’s love at home;
Love at home, love at home.
Time doth softly, sweetly glide,
When there’s love at home.
Teacher Dora played a significant part in my elementary school life. THANK YOU!!!
Ms. Wade was a young British Lecturer I had for my A-Level Physics class. She was an outstanding well-organized lecturer. She was well known for giving simple and meaningful mnemonics designed to aid the memory. In her lecture in electricity she gave a mnemonic for the relationship between electromotive force (E), current (C) and resistance (R) as:
Earth over Coffin Is equal to Rest :
E/C = R
I enjoyed her lessons so well that I spared no effort to record my laboratory work in the best possible way. On one occasion the remark Ms. Wade wrote in my lab log book was, “Excellent! Your work is a pleasure to check.”
Under Ms. Wade’s tutorship, I was able to go through my A-Level Physics with ease. Eight years later, I wrote the same remark in the chemistry log book of a conscientious student.
About twenty years later, I was invited to a function of the old boys’ association of Opoku Ware School in Toronto. A prominent looking man came to introduce himself. He told me he still remembers an encouraging remark I wrote on his exam paper when he was a student in my chemistry class. He was a chemist working for an oil company.
THANK YOU, MS. WADE. GOOD TEACHERS COUNT!!!
Mrs. Leticia Obeng (now Dr. Obeng) was another excellent lecturer I had for my A-Level Zoology. Her laboratory instructions in histology made me realize that human anatomy was well-organized and could be studied methodically. She made me realize that biology is not just based on learning a series of facts by heart.
THANK YOU DR. OBENG.
Teachers have a chance to learn from curious and intelligent students as much as students learn from teachers. In 1972, while teaching in the County of Smoky Lake, Alberta, Canada, a ten year old student, Colleen, came and stood by my desk. She whispered to me, “Mr. Sam have you ever seen an atom?” I asked her why she was asking that question. She answered, “You always talk about atoms as confidently as someone who has seen and handled atoms.”
I was unaware that I had created that impression on my students. It took a ten-year-old girl to make me examine myself about the concept of atoms. Colleen wanted to know why scientists believe in the existence of atoms. I tried to offer all types of indirect evidence. I don’t think I was able to offer a satisfactory answer. I knew she was going to be an exceptionally bright student in the future.
A few years ago, the Owarean Magazine, the official magazine of Opoku Ware School interviewed a prominent alumnus, a famous Orthopedic Surgeon (Dr. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei) in New York. He was asked: Who inspired you the most at OWASS? He answered,”…Rev Fr. Villaca…. Mr. Sam was also a source of inspiration to me.”
I don’t remember this outstanding surgeon as a student. I don’t know what I did or said to have given him the inspiration. I am very grateful for his comment. This suggests that teachers do, indeed, count.
President Obama, in his best seller The Audacity of Hope has made an important statement which all politicians (especially in Africa) should ponder over.
“If we’re serious about building a twenty-first century school system, we’re going to have to take the teaching profession seriously.”
As you read this preface, I would suggest that you think of all the teachers who have somehow influenced your life. They deserve to receive their due rewards here on earth. They don’t have to wait to receive their rewards in heaven as many politicians proclaim.
God Bless The Teaching Profession!!!
Leo Richard Kobena Nyan Sam
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
March, 2012
Do Teachers Count? is available for purchase at Amazon for $14.99. Click here.
Mr. Leo Sam 