John Merrow - The Influence of Teachers

Bob Greenberg, a former teacher, reflects on the impact of teachers on successful individuals. He shares insights from a television series where famous figures like Jesse Jackson, Bill Clinton, and George HW Bush discussed the teachers who shaped their lives. The series highlights the importance of teachers setting high standards and the role of failure in learning. Greenberg emphasizes that education is not about test scores but about expecting more from students and helping them achieve. The WD40 story serves as a metaphor for persistence and learning from failure.

Which famous individuals were interviewed about the teachers who influenced them?

• Jesse Jackson, George HW Bush, Bill Clinton, Felicia Rashad

• Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, Maya Angelou

• Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts

• Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Isaac Newton, Nikola Tesla

What is a key characteristic of the teachers who influenced successful individuals?

• They focused solely on test scores.

• They allowed students to do substandard work.

• They discouraged failure.

• They held students to high standards.

What is the main lesson from the WD40 example?

• Education is about catching mistakes.

• Perseverance and learning from failure are crucial.

• High standards are not necessary for success.

• Success comes from avoiding failure.

What does the speaker suggest is not the purpose of education?

• To set high standards.

• To help students learn from failure.

• To catch students making mistakes.

• To encourage perseverance.

Why is WD40 named as such?

• It was the 40th attempt to create a water-displacing formula.

• It was named after the scientists who created it.

• It was the first successful attempt.

• It was named after a famous inventor.