Saturday, December 9, 2023
Don Gutteridge was my instructor of English at Althouse College of Education in 1971-72. He was an inspiration, making his student-teachers aware of the infinite possibilities and joys of their profession. He was also practical, sharing lessons and approaches that remained critical to my teaching throughout a forty-six year career.
I remember a Professional Development session decades into my career. A speaker declared that Faculties of Education were a waste of time, that teachers became teachers only after they were employed, working out best practice on their own. I disagreed and, unusually for such a forum, I said so aloud, stating I felt my own training had been invaluable.
The challenge was immediate and cynical: “Where were you trained? Who was your instructor?”
“Althouse, with Don Gutteridge.”
The next response was a total capitulation: “Oh. Well. You were one of the lucky ones.”
I was, indeed, and have always been grateful for that fact.
