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7 Teachers Who Changed the World

Written by Lisa 26 July 2011 3 Comments

Great teachers inspire.  They challenege.  They educate.  They listen.  They are organized, confident, disciplined, hardworking, and engaging.  

They also change the world. 

Here are 7 teachers who changed the world, will you be next?

1.)  Confucius:  A Chinese thinker, philospher, and teacher, Confucius is known all over the world.  This teacher put emphasis on study and the importance of studying and learning.   He spent much of his time studying the outside world and his philosphies mirror this.  He was given various names, with literal and translated meanings:  "First Teacher" - "The Teacher who assits the wise to their attainment"  - "Role Model for Teachers through the Ages". 

2.) Booker T. Washington:  A great teacher who dedicated his life to education, philanthropy, and politics.  Through his efforts he helped raise countless dollars to support education and created thousands of small community schools and higher education institutions throughout the South.  As a civil rights activist and teacher, Booker was known for his cooperation not confrontation.  

3.) Noah Webster:  Often referred to as the "Father of American Scholarship and Education", Noah Webster has taught millions of Americans how to spell and read.  He grew to dislike American school systems, so he created his own 3 volume work that included a speller, a reader, and a grammar.  Known for his contribution to the American Dictionary, the first was published in 1828 - "An American Dictionary of the English Language". 

4.) Albert Einstein:  In 1921, Albert Einstein won the Nobel Prize for Physics for his services to Theoretical Physics and his discovery of the lay of the photoelectric effect.   He was a professor at the Berline Academy of Sciences in Germany, but became a citizen of the U.S. in 1940.  His theories, studies, and knowledge continue to educate students all over the world.

5.) Aristotle:  Known as the Teacher of Alexander the Great, Aristotle has taught many more! A Greek philosopher, he was also the student of Plato.  His views and studies greatly helped form Western philisophy.  As head of the Royal Academy of Macedon, in addition to Alexander the Great, he also taught to other future kinds:  Ptolemy and Cassander. 

6.) John Locke:  One of the greatest philosophers in Europe at the end of the 17th century, John Locke had a major influence on political philosophy - particularly modern liberalism.  His theories on social contract and liberty influenced the Founding Fathers - and today, many contemporary libertarians still claim Locke as a major influencer. 

7.)  You tell me!  Teachers don't have to be famous to change the world.  In the comments area, nominate a teacher YOU know that has changed the world - or at least their classroom/school/community.  List their name and a short description of their accomplishments and impacts.  I will pick one winner and both YOU and the nominated teacher will receive memberships to our Teacher Learning Community (a $297 value) plus other goodies. I'll announce the winner (via a comment on this post) on July 29th!

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