Teachers have always been there, uniquely positioned to shape and mold lives and communities. Sometimes, though, the stories of their greatness rise above even the ordinary to that of triumph, discipline, and unexpected creativity. Here are surprising facts about teachers that go beyond the classroom.
1. The Loudest Shout Ever Came from a Teacher
A primary school teacher holds the record for the loudest shout ever recorded—an ear-piercing “Quiet!” that reached 121.7 decibels. This impressive vocal feat has stood unbeaten for 30 years.
2. A Teacher Who Couldn’t Read
John Corcoran taught for 17 years without knowing how to read or write. Despite his struggles in school, he managed to cheat his way through college and became a teacher. It wasn’t until the age of 47 that he finally learned to read, inspired by Barbara Bush’s efforts in adult literacy advocacy.
3. Famous Students Defy Their Teacher’s Expectations
An Illinois high school English teacher once told two students they’d never learn to write. Those students were Robert St. John, who became a renowned journalist, and Ernest Hemingway, one of the most celebrated authors in literary history.
4. A Teacher Used ‘Game of Thrones’ as Discipline
In 2014, a Belgian math teacher came up with a creative way to discipline his unruly class. Since he had already read the “Game of Thrones” books (which were ahead of the TV show at the time), he threatened to spoil the plot for his students if they didn’t behave!
5. Bathroom Break Misunderstanding Leads to $1.25 Million Settlement
In 2012, a California high school student was forced to urinate in a bucket in a supply room after a teacher mistakenly believed that bathroom breaks were not allowed. The incident led to a lawsuit, and five years later, the school district was ordered to pay the student $1.25 million in damages.
6. Mentos and Coke—A Chemistry Class Sensation
When the executives at Mentos saw even a simple chemistry teacher create a soda geyser with Diet Coke and Mentos on “The Late Show,” they immediately took advantage of the opportunity. They ran a campaign that called for more people to create videos of themselves doing the experiment, further resulting in a viral trend that increased sales 20% for Mentos.
These stories show that teachers can inspire, surprise, and sometimes even go down in history for the most unexpected reasons!