By NIVEEN KATTAN
Managing Editor
Imagine walking out of class each day feeling like you had actually learned something new. Do you have a tough time imagining this?
But every day Brenda MacDonald, a Smith social studies teacher, stimulates her students� minds with novel ideas.
"I feel that Mrs. MacDonald is a teacher who makes you think and understand the information, instead of memorizing and forgetting," said Thane Le, a junior who took Honors World History under MacDonald last year. "She's a great teacher and should be commended for her excellence."
It's ironic that MacDonald should have developed into such an outstanding teacher. Originally an interior decoration major at Women's College (now UNCG), MacDonald admits "I hated teaching" then, but she landed a job at Northeast High School in 1965 because she heeded the advice of her father.
"My father said that I should get my teaching certificate," she said. "I've never had any regrets. I wouldn't trade it for any other professsion."
MacDonald's father felt that a teaching career was practical. His words proved prophetic because she dropped out of the interior decoration track during her freshman year at WC. She turned to history and thought about a civil service job in Atlanta while she was in college, but she got married soon after and stayed in Greensboro.
MacDonald, a native of Rockingham County and graduate of the now defunct Wentworth High School, says that the cornerstone of her teaching philosophy has come from experience, not from things she learned in college. Her emphasis in teaching is on getting students to think for themselves.
"What I teach is not as important as how I teach -- that is, teaching students to think for themselves," she said. "Having goals, wanting to achieve them and accepting responsibility are my main objectives."
The history teacher has 32 years under her belt, including 30 at Smith. Although she is eligible for retirement, she chooses to stay because it's personally rewarding -- "and I need a job."
What keeps MacDonald going strong when many teachers with that many years sit back and let students do xeroxed worksheets all day long?
"I'm not bored with the work," MacDonald. "I never say the same thing twice. I feed off the students as they come to me. I adapt to each student as he or she comes to me."
Although MacDonald is a student's teacher, she doesn't believe that school is a day at the beach.
"You don't have to like me or school to be successful," she said. "You have to do what needs to be done and be the best at that.
"The top priority for each student should be learning to think for herself or himself and to act responsibly. I may have my own way of doing things, but my students know not to cross a certain line."
Students sense that MacDonald doesn't just see them as vessels to be filled with facts and ideas. Rather, they see her as a sensitive, caring adult role model.
"Miss MacDonald is the best teacher that I have had here at Smith so far, not only because she teaches well, but because she truly cares about her students," said junior June Nall, who took Honors World History under the Smith teacher. "She's tough but fair. Her classes are challenging and demanding."
MacDonald likes to get students to emphathize with historical characters. For example, she might ask a student to role play as a Russian czar or a Hindu wife. Students have fun performing these roles and are not reluctant to take chances in MacDonald's room.
"She makes history come alive with unique and interesting historical anecdotes," said Smith assistant principal Melissa Harrelson. "Mrs. MacDonald is very organized. She knows her subject matter well and keeps it fresh for her students."
This year, for the first time, MacDonald teaches a class on the N.C. Information Highway. Thus, she is not only a classroom teacher but also a bit of an actress, director and camera person all in one. That's just the nature of teaching, she says.
"You have to be adaptable but firm in your resolve," MacDonald said.
MacDonald is always prepared before every lesson. At the end of every day before she leaves her classroom she already has the next days notes on the board. There is no wasted time in class. Another teaching strength is her communications skills. Assignments and expectations are clear.
"I never teach of the top of my head," stated MacDonald.
Every time a student walks into her class, he or she knows exacty what is going to be taught and what he or she is going to get out of it.
"Her classroom and style is always very organized and it is shown by the grades of her students and tha overall aura she has when teaching and talking to her students," said junior Ashley Schmidt, a former student in MacDonald's world history class.
MacDonald never gives any type of" busy work." Each thing done has a purpose and each student knows it.
"If you took the time to do the work, I take the time to grade it," MacDonald said.
And her students are glad that her father was insistent on her becoming a teacher. Father knows best.
"If you haven't had Mrs. MacDonald as a teacher, you're missing a great experience," junior Erin Hicks said.
Niveen Kattan is an honors student.
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