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50 Times Teachers And Professors Showed Just How Heartwarming And Wholesome They Can Be (New Pics)
Wizards of wholesomeness. Kings and queens of kindness. Sultans of support. Teachers and professors can be very powerful forces of good in their students’ lives, helping guide them and unlocking their potential. Today, the team here at Bored Panda is paying homage to some of the best educators out there. That’s why we’ve collected some of their most wholesome and heartwarming moments.
It’s proof that educators really don’t get paid enough. We’d love to give each and every teacher and professor on this list a wage bump and a hug to thank them for being such awesome inspirations for us all. Don’t forget to upvote the pics that warmed your heart as you continue scrolling. When you’re done with this list, we’ve got some more teacher and professor wholesomeness waiting for you here and here.
And remember, Pandas, if you’ve ever had a great teacher or professor who you still remember fondly to this very day, why not tell them how you feel? Send them an email, give them a call, or drop by your old school. We’re pretty sure they’d appreciate your appreciation. Sometimes, a simple ‘thank you’ is enough to make it all worth it.
Bored Panda got in touch with Lisa McLendon, the William Allen White Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications and the Coordinator at the Bremner Editing Center at the University of Kansas. We had a chat about how educators can motivate students and about some of the nicest things that Lisa and her students have done for each other. You'll find the full interview below, dear Pandas, so make sure to read on.
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Chicago Public School Teacher Dwayne Reed, Who's Wife Is Eight Months Pregnant With Their First Child, Requested To Work From Home To Minimize His Covid Risk
His school district said no. So Reed's teaching remotely - from right outside his school.
"Just this week I put a current student in touch with an alum who was looking for a summer intern—I knew the student and what the alum was looking for, and I thought they’d be a good match. By Thursday she had the internship!" Lisa, from the University of Kansas, shared one way that she recently helped one of her students.
"It’s always nice to see when your students flourish. I also encourage (and have gotten the university to fund) students to attend an annual professional conference, to see what professionals in the field are doing and start to build their network. Every year a few students go, and they’re always happy to have had such an experience," she said.
"As for nice things students have done for me, I keep a folder of the handwritten notes I’ve received from students, telling me how they value what they learned from me or just thanks for being their teacher, and I read a couple when I have a bad day, to remind myself why I do this job," the professor revealed that these notes can help motivate her.
Special Education Teacher Has Her Entire Class As Members Of Her Wedding Party
Lol Kids Are So Wholesome
Speaking of motivation, the professor explained to us what educators can do to help guide and inspire their students. According to her, it's important that professors show the purpose of everything that they're doing at university.
"Relating concepts and skills to real-world activities can help many students understand not just what they’re doing but why. Explaining the purpose of big-picture things like a whole course as well as small things like individual assignments can help students understand why what they’re doing is relevant. Also, putting concepts and skills into the larger field can help students contextualize what they’re doing and see how it relates to things they’ve done before and things they’ll be doing at the next level," the professor told Bored Panda.
This Is Wholesome
We should treat everybody this way, everyone has their personal hell hidden inside.
This Retired Chemistry Teacher Completed A Cross-Stitch Periodic Table After Two Decades Of Stitching
He meticulously hand-stitched every inch of the 58' x 54' embroidery. The table and border took six years.
Teacher Posted This To Parents - So Thoughtful
This this this! Some people need extra support sometimes and if you don't pry, I imagine lots of people will feel they can use this when needed
Meanwhile, we were curious as to how educators could subtly let a student know that they should put a bit more effort into their work. "The 'sandwich' method usually works pretty well: Tell the student something good about their work (bread), tell them how something could be better (filling), then tell them something else good, either about their work or about your confidence in their ability to do it (bread)," she explained the sandwich method of criticism.
"Some students want simple, direct feedback on what to fix, but many want to know that they’re at least on the right track and that their teacher thinks they can do it."
Hugs And Kisses
Last Minute Before The Graduation. Student Comes To Me In A Panic. He’s Like, They Won’t Let Me Graduate Because I Don’t Have The Proper Shoes For The Dress Code
In total disbelief, I go down to confirm. And sure enough, the lady down there tells me the same thing. So then it becomes a no-brainer to me, a no more questions-asked scenario. I gave him the shoes on my feet. Here’s the funny part though... My shoes were 2 sizes bigger than his, so when his name was called, he had to slide his feet like sleestak across the stage to receive his diploma. We had a good laugh.
This is deeply stupid. Why would you be so insistent on "the right shoes" (which are often reflective of White ideas of "appropriate" and are classiest as many people can't afford dress shoes) that you would deny a child the chance to graduate and be recognized for his hard work
My Very Considerate Professor Allowing Me To Bring My Cat To Class
Teachers Tom Rose and Jack Pannett from the UK told Bored Panda during a previous interview that being an educator can be very stressful yet rewarding. Teachers need to be able to deal with a lot of unexpected situations. Planning is important, but being flexible and nimble enough to react to (sometimes unpleasant) surprises is vital, too.
“Box breathing’ is our ‘go-to’ method if we are stressed and want to calm down. Box breathing is a practice where you breathe in for 4 seconds, hold breath for 4 seconds, breathe out for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds and repeat until your heart rate slows down," Tom and Jack shared with us how they calm down if things get a tad too stressful.
The two teachers told us that it’s important to know your students well and to be aware of who might pose the most challenges. That will make it easier to manage their behavior in the future. What’s more, educators have to be very aware of their students’ parents as well. It’s very useful to be diplomatic when speaking to them or giving them advice about their kids. Parents also gossip. A lot.
An Email From My Computer Science Teacher, Who I’m Not Even Taking A Class With This Semester. Genuinely Want To Cry Right Now
Well Done Professor
Some Teachers Go Above And Beyond For Their Students
Teachers Tom and Jack told Bored Panda that a lot of staff members are so busy taking care of everyone else that they can forget about their own health and wellbeing. They noted that teachers have to remember the basics: eating, getting enough sleep, taking time off to unwind after stressful periods.
According to psychotherapist Silva Neves, from the United Kingdom, human beings are hardwired to be kind. However, at the same time, human beings are constantly thinking about their own survival. So there’s an ongoing battle inside everyone about whether or not to be altruistic and to go the extra mile for someone else.
So My Professor Reached Out To Me Few Times Before To Check On Me Because I Haven't Been Attending Classes Since I Dropped Out This Fall Semester And Look What She Said And Did
I Came Out To My Very Religious Family A Few Years Back And Haven’t Been Allowed Home Since. I Just Got This From One Of My Professors And Had To Share It. I’m 100% Going
This Brazilian Sign Language Teacher Signs Her Entire Wedding Ceremony For All Of Her Deaf Guests
“Being kind is good for us because it gives us a sense of purpose, it raises our self-esteem, and it releases feel-good brain chemicals,” Silva told Bored Panda earlier.
“It [kindness] is also good for others, obviously. So kindness is actually something that we, humans, are naturally driven to be,” he said.
A Little Help When Needed
Higher Learning
What an incredible teacher and a gorgeous baby. Who doesn't love carrying a baby.
We Are In Lockdown In Australia. My Daughter Got Some Mail From Her Teacher
“The sense of kindness is in competition with our survival mode, so, as human beings, we tend to live in contradiction, between kindness (opening our arms) and protection (closing our arms),” the mental health expert explained to us that there’s a constant flux between being helpful to others and prioritizing what’s best for us.
New Office Neighbor Has A Very Sensible Office Door Policy. Last Point Is A Nice One
Spanish Male Teachers Wore Skirts To School After A Student Got Expelled Over It
Not All Heroes Wear Capes
Homework is not just something to make feel the kids that they are controlled, owned by the system even outside of school?
Helping others can make you feel far more positive about life. What’s more, acts of altruism can also help put things into perspective and make you, well, happier. Kindness also has a way of spreading. Doing wholesome things for others inspires them to act in a similar way, in turn. Kindness leads to more kindness. And wholesome teachers create more wholesome students.
In Mexico, School Was Cancelled Because Of The Pandemic. This Teacher Turned Her Pickup Truck Into A Portable Classroom
She drives two hours a day to teach children with autism who don't have books or access to the internet.
Teacher's Positive Words
Young ones LOVE to see their artwork hanging up! I used to hang my son's pictures by tiny clothes pins on a string that stretched across my dining room wall. Friends & family also enjoyed the artwork when visiting.
This Little Heart On My Hand Is Called A "Cuddle Button". Since My Wife Passed Away Last Year, My 4-Year-Old Daughter Has Hated Being Away From Me
Her teacher draws this on both our hands when I drop her off at school and every time we press it, it sends a hug to the other. It helps her feel connected to me.
Sarah Vero, from ‘Action for Happiness,’ explained to Bored Panda earlier that happiness is closely linked to the concepts of duty and purpose.
"The 10 keys to happier living are giving, relating, exercising, awareness, trying out, direction, resilience, emotions, acceptance, and meaning. We are likely to be happier if our lives have direction, meaning and purpose and if we are part of something bigger than ourselves," Sarah shared with us.
This Is Pure Genius
This Teacher Wore Anatomy Bodysuit To Teach Science Class
A Professor In Afghanistan Is Taking Care Of A Baby While The Mother Is Busy In Her Exam
"Giving or doing things for others is another example. Relating is about being connected to other people and being part of a community. Duty and purpose don't have to be serious things, being part of a cause that you care about or taking part in charity fundraising, all these things make us happy and fulfilled. We should see these things as acts of service that help us to be happy and help other people at the same time. Awareness is about appreciating each moment no matter what we are doing at the time,” she went into detail about the things we can all do that lead to happiness.
This Drawing That My History Teacher Did On The Whiteboard
A Very Caring Teacher
Thanks To My 6th Grade Teacher
Thinking about others, not just ourselves, leads to more satisfaction with our lives. Altruism benefits everyone.
"Think about how you can reach out and do things for others, help a neighbor or volunteer for a cause, we get happiness high from helping other people,” she suggested.
Ya-Boi
Another Expo Drawing By My History Teacher
His Smile Makes My Heart Happy
A Film Class At UCLA Was Analyzing The Movie "Get Out" And The Professor Surprised Students With A Special Guest
My Dad Is A College Professor. When One Of His Student's Babysitter Didn't Show, She Had To Take Her 4 Month Old Daughter To Class
She started to get fussy, so he did what any good dad would do. They spent almost the entire class like this.
"Free Math Classes" This Math Professor Helps Random People Who Want To Learn Math For Free
Anatomy Teacher With His Drawing Lecture On A Chalkboard
Class Concern
A 5-Year-Old Girl Was Being Teased By Her Classmates For Looking Like A Boy. Her Teacher Chopped Off Her Own Hair To Support Her
High School Teachers: Your College Professors Won't Be Nearly As Laid Back As I Am. My College Professor
College Advice My Professor Gave Us
Professor Of The Year
tell me he's getting paid for his time. TELL ME HES AT LEAST GETTING PAID FOR HIS TIME *more infernal screaming* WE LOVE YOUUUUUU!!!!!
My Teacher Is Currently In The Hospital Suffering From Stage Three Kidney Failure. And Still Makes An Effort To Teach
So One Of The Students Came In With Her Kid Because She Couldn't Afford A Babysitter. The Kid Started Crying In Class And The Professor Took The Kid And Calmed Him Down
I Tutor A 6-Year-Old In Reading Who Prefers Math. This Is How I Keep His Attention, I Am The Reading Tooter
Teacher Picks On Student, Wholesome Edition
I was told once by my wise vice principal: "teachers are your second parents", and today im glad to see that teachers are proving it right.
You Don't See This Everyday
A Teacher's Message To Her Students
'Dear Male students, you are not all predators and members of the patriarchy'.
Load More Replies...It would be nice to see these all as affirmative instead of mixed negative and affirmative. Like "Dear Female Students, your bodies are your own", "Dear Muslim Students, you will be respected here". Listing what people are not, especially specific stereotypes, tends to still feel a little hurtful. Like, "Dear average looking white men, you are NOT serial killers"...
Yah! It's more empowering wording things like "your bodies are your own" than one specific creepy harassment type.
Load More Replies...The labeling of people for me is also a form of discrimination. Why we need "names" for a human
My wife is white and from Wisconsin. She is _white_. When my best friend and I were discussing white privilege, he used the example that blacks typically come from single parent homes. To me assuming that is any black person I meet is racist, but I replied "so is my wife" "not the point here. Blacks also come from low income housing". Again, another racist assumption, but I again replied "so did my wife." and again "not the point. They come from bad education." Again racist. Again applies to my wife. It only works when it benefits them. I am a firm believer in All Lives Matter. And whenever I'd say this, people would just counter w/ "you're just saying this so you can say 'White Lives Matter'." I said "no, I believe All Lives Matter. Whites, Blacks, Latino/a/x, Asian, and so on." When an article came out about an unarmed black person being shot by the cop is blasted all over the news and social media, I would find one about an unarmed Latino/a/x being shot at well.
If you really care about the injustices of the police, I'm helping you. I can't support any minority because of my skin and gender. My opinion and beliefs have no bearing because of my skin and gender. Assuming I am r.a.c.i.s.t, homophobic, mysogynistic, etc. because of my skin and gender _is_ racism by definition. Teaching children to avoid white people because they are white. Trying to keep a gap between whites and everybody else. Not everyone had the same upbringing you think they did. I know plenty of Blacks that have never been pulled over by a cop and doesn't fear them. Quit trying to analyze someone because of how they look. That is racism. Racism has nothing to do w/ "having power". It is hatred for another person because they look different than you do.
Load More Replies...I am not sure this helps. Pointing out the aggravating prejudices about different groups of people makes you on one hand ask about other groups not mentioned and on the other hand it just puts emphasis on the prejudices. Nope for me. Should have just said that everyone in there own person and being is treated with respect no matter what colour, religion, background, sex, family or outfit, etc.
"All Lives Matter" is dismissive of the actual discrimination that Black people face on a daily basis. That's like saying "save the rainforest!" and someone responding "NO, ALL FORESTS MATTER." Sure they do, but the rainforest is the one that's in need of saving. All you're doing by saying "everyone matters" is detracting from a cause that NEEDS the attention you are trying to distribute evenly to everyone. Y'all need to stop.
But belittling native americans buy excluding them, that's ok. Ignoring sweatshop workers? That's fine. How bout those Chinese women that were kidnapped and forced into prostitution? Or women in general (who have a worse history than any one race if you can peel away the male narrative on history) Nope. We're just gonna get offended if you say all lives matter equally. -.-
Load More Replies...Y'all can cry about it all you want, and give individual examples of specific people who have specific problems, it doesn't change the truth. WHITE PEOPLE ARE NOT OPPRESSED AS A WHOLE FOR BEING WHITE, AND MEN ARE NOT OPPRESSED AS A WHOLE FOR BEING MEN. If you are poor and oppressed, if you are mentally ill and oppressed, if you are are oppressed individually for whatever reason you can come up with, IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE WHITE OR MALE. This isn't a difficult concept to understand and the white privelege is so thick in here you could cut it with a knife. JFC.
Your blatant racism is thick enough to cut with a knife
Load More Replies...How do you stop racism? Every one respect and be kind to each other. How do you keep racism going? See comments below about white males as an example. You can't just have one or two types of racism. It all needs to be gone. It's not any one's choice being born the way they are born. Personally, i think i'd have chosen almost any thing but human. Humans are just way too complicated. Hating eachother for such stupid reasons when we could just learn from each other, help each other, and create a wonderful world. Such a waste of potential the way things are now. :(
boys don't experience harassment, stalking, abuse, rape, torture and murder just because they are boys. all the listed groups in the picture do. not being the centre of attention for one f*****g second will not kill privileged people.
Load More Replies...What word was censored in the "Dear Latino(A) students" part?
I dunno, I appreciate the gesture but it’s still reminding them of the things a lot of people think about them
Careful - cognitive science research suggests that saying "not X" accidentally ends up strengthening the perception of X. (See Professor George Lakoff's work, for example)
Except for the wall that the sign is literally taped to. Would it be possible to virtue signal any harder?
some people actually care about other humans and want to help them feel safe and accepted. I know that must be a difficult concept for you to wrap your single braincell around, but not everyone is as heartless as you.
Load More Replies...Professor Won't Let Fire Alarm Stop Students From Learning, Proceeds To Teach Using Storage Container
Wife Is A Kindergarten Teacher. A Couple Of The Teachers Started A "Comfort Closet" At Her School For Needy Kids To Get Hygiene Supplies And Clothes. All Donation Based
Teachers of any level are underpaid and underrated...we cant do without them
I had a French and an English teacher who helped me get through high school. My grades were average/below average, the school tried to expel me because of that to keep their average up and position in the school palmares at the end of the year (I know, it's completely stupid). Previous teachers tried to break me into somekind of a mold that I found boring when I'm more of a express through humor kind of person. Those two teachers saw it in some stuff I wrote in creative writing assignment even though I was holding back to stick to the mold that was showed in my previous years. They completely wanted to see more of that humour noir with bad puns in my writing and encouraged me to show that side of me which was the real me. Hell, I implemented it in poetry exercices to the delight of my teachers. With that, my grades went up and my overall confidence too !
It's incredible the dedication some teachers have. Such a disgusting crime they're so underpaid
As a citizen, I'm disgusted by so much that is happening in the US right now. But the way teachers are being treated in "certain" states fills me with rage.
I had a kid falling asleep in class every day since he joined us a few weeks ago. I have a student teacher so I pulled him outside and asked what was up. He said, "My mom just had a baby and it cries all night." I yelled, "Same! Except it's my daughter and we live in a multi family household." Then we each pulled out our phone and shared pictures of the babies keeping us up at night. I told him there are things I need him awake for. Now I nudge him when I need him. The baby at my house is finally sleeping through the night at 6 weeks old. I don't know when the one at his will.
After my last lesson I stayed behind to clean the classroom one day and my Spanish teacher talked to me about the person I was sitting next to since she was talking to me about my sexualitity kinda loudly and he wanted to make sure I was comfortable he also found out about my anxiety and told me I could speak to him about anything going on. Another teacher spoke to me and said that he hoped I picked history gcse, I'm assuming because he wanted to teach me. Kind teachers are the best
I went to an all girls school. My vice principal was a guy and made sure his office was always stocked with water bottles, tissues,and chocolate. Always told us never to give up on our dreams. While I was still there he fell out of a tree and was almost completely paralyzed. Til the day he died he had a steady stream of alumni visitors and he established a needs based post high school scholarship. He was a legend
All these professors holding babies are making me feel a little better about my own "kind but clueless" moment back in high school. A teacher brought her preschool age son to class a few times when there was some childcare disaster. One time, he was bored and kept (unintentionally) interrupting the lesson. The teacher was trying to find something for him to colour with that wasn't lesson materials. I pull out my highlighters and pass them forward. That's the sweet part. The absolutely clueless bit is when my attention span got the better of me (I paid attention the first time this was taught and had no attention left for the review, lol) and the lad is getting really fussy so, on older-sister-autopilot, I go to the front of the class, lay down on the floor, and draw with the kid until I realize what the heck I'm doing and go back to my seat. Teacher didn't comment because everyone knew I was just like that 😂
spent over 6 years (from nursery onwards) being told I couldn't do art because I refused to color within the lines. met a new art teacher in 6th grade who saw potential that I couldn't see, and she gave me a cartoon penguin to work on while the rest of the class worked on something else. Found my passion for calligraphy just a year later, and I'm still out here making art, all because of 1 teacher who refused to accept I was bad at something.
also: my temporary substitute teacher for Eng Lit in 5th grade helped me write my first essay. she was impressed with how it turned out and told me she hoped I'd never stop writing. When I met her for the first time 6 years later, before I could even say, "you probably don't remember me...", she said my name and immediately asked if I still write. I'm not ashamed to say I started crying on the spot. A good teacher makes all the difference.
Load More Replies...Teachers of any level are underpaid and underrated...we cant do without them
I had a French and an English teacher who helped me get through high school. My grades were average/below average, the school tried to expel me because of that to keep their average up and position in the school palmares at the end of the year (I know, it's completely stupid). Previous teachers tried to break me into somekind of a mold that I found boring when I'm more of a express through humor kind of person. Those two teachers saw it in some stuff I wrote in creative writing assignment even though I was holding back to stick to the mold that was showed in my previous years. They completely wanted to see more of that humour noir with bad puns in my writing and encouraged me to show that side of me which was the real me. Hell, I implemented it in poetry exercices to the delight of my teachers. With that, my grades went up and my overall confidence too !
It's incredible the dedication some teachers have. Such a disgusting crime they're so underpaid
As a citizen, I'm disgusted by so much that is happening in the US right now. But the way teachers are being treated in "certain" states fills me with rage.
I had a kid falling asleep in class every day since he joined us a few weeks ago. I have a student teacher so I pulled him outside and asked what was up. He said, "My mom just had a baby and it cries all night." I yelled, "Same! Except it's my daughter and we live in a multi family household." Then we each pulled out our phone and shared pictures of the babies keeping us up at night. I told him there are things I need him awake for. Now I nudge him when I need him. The baby at my house is finally sleeping through the night at 6 weeks old. I don't know when the one at his will.
After my last lesson I stayed behind to clean the classroom one day and my Spanish teacher talked to me about the person I was sitting next to since she was talking to me about my sexualitity kinda loudly and he wanted to make sure I was comfortable he also found out about my anxiety and told me I could speak to him about anything going on. Another teacher spoke to me and said that he hoped I picked history gcse, I'm assuming because he wanted to teach me. Kind teachers are the best
I went to an all girls school. My vice principal was a guy and made sure his office was always stocked with water bottles, tissues,and chocolate. Always told us never to give up on our dreams. While I was still there he fell out of a tree and was almost completely paralyzed. Til the day he died he had a steady stream of alumni visitors and he established a needs based post high school scholarship. He was a legend
All these professors holding babies are making me feel a little better about my own "kind but clueless" moment back in high school. A teacher brought her preschool age son to class a few times when there was some childcare disaster. One time, he was bored and kept (unintentionally) interrupting the lesson. The teacher was trying to find something for him to colour with that wasn't lesson materials. I pull out my highlighters and pass them forward. That's the sweet part. The absolutely clueless bit is when my attention span got the better of me (I paid attention the first time this was taught and had no attention left for the review, lol) and the lad is getting really fussy so, on older-sister-autopilot, I go to the front of the class, lay down on the floor, and draw with the kid until I realize what the heck I'm doing and go back to my seat. Teacher didn't comment because everyone knew I was just like that 😂
spent over 6 years (from nursery onwards) being told I couldn't do art because I refused to color within the lines. met a new art teacher in 6th grade who saw potential that I couldn't see, and she gave me a cartoon penguin to work on while the rest of the class worked on something else. Found my passion for calligraphy just a year later, and I'm still out here making art, all because of 1 teacher who refused to accept I was bad at something.
also: my temporary substitute teacher for Eng Lit in 5th grade helped me write my first essay. she was impressed with how it turned out and told me she hoped I'd never stop writing. When I met her for the first time 6 years later, before I could even say, "you probably don't remember me...", she said my name and immediately asked if I still write. I'm not ashamed to say I started crying on the spot. A good teacher makes all the difference.
Load More Replies...