Samuel Abrams - Teachers Make a Difference

The transcript highlights the teaching careers of Dorothy Bach and Walter Clarkson. Dorothy Bach, a dedicated teacher in Holyoke, inspired students with her love for literature and grammar, emphasizing kindness and high standards. Walter Clarkson, an English teacher in Westfield, shared similar values, fostering a warm and engaging learning environment. Both educators exemplified erudition, kindness, and devotion, leaving lasting impacts on their students.

What was one of Dorothy Bach's key teaching philosophies?

• Grammar is not essential.

• Kindness should come first.

• Brilliance is more important than kindness.

• Literature should be taught without enthusiasm.

How did Dorothy Bach make the Odyssey engaging for her students?

• By making it magical and relatable.

• By introducing it at the end of the year.

• By simplifying the text.

• By avoiding difficult parts.

What was a notable characteristic of Dorothy Bach's teaching style?

• She was both kind and tough.

• She avoided using red ink.

• She focused only on literature.

• She was lenient with deadlines.

Where did Walter Clarkson teach English?

• New York, NY

• Smith College

• Holyoke, MA

• Westfield, NJ

What qualities did both Dorothy Bach and Walter Clarkson exemplify?

• Erudition and kindness

• Disorganization and carelessness

• Laziness and apathy

• Strictness and indifference