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My Gen X Playlist: Another Brick in the Wall – Pink Floyd

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Daily writing prompt
What makes a teacher great?
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A young woman once tapped my mom on the shoulder at the grocery store, introduced herself and gave her a big smile. It turned out, my mom was her second grade teacher almost two decades ago. She’d been retired for many years but once she heard the young woman’s name, she remembered her instantly. It was a lovely reunion. When I heard this story, I tried to remember something about my elementary school teachers. I might recall a name or two, but that was about it.

Our close family friend had been a teacher for over forty years before he retired. I heard stories that when the kids learned he was going to be their teacher, there was sadness, fear and dread. Apparently, he had the reputation of being tough. Once as a punishment, he told a kid to go outside and count the bricks on the wall. When the kid came back to report the results, he said, Wrong. Go back out there and count them again. I asked him how many bricks were on the wall. He said he didn’t have a clue. Ultimately, he won the kids over during the school year and became their favorite teacher. At his funeral service, the church was filled with past students who came to honor and say goodbye to their beloved teacher. It was touching hearing them speak at the service.

So what makes a great teacher? My guess is it’s one who cares and connects. I realize this may not be the easiest thing to do, especially in this day and age. Kids’ lives appear more complicated, there are far more distractions that make connecting more difficult. Despite the challenges, teachers go in everyday with the hope of making a difference. Hats off to our teachers who work long hours, spend their own hard earned money on their classrooms and do not receive the appreciation they deserve. Thank you.

A song popped into my head and I hesitated because I shouldn’t use this one. It’s the antithesis of the prompt. But I’ve got teachers and a brick wall. What else am I suppose to do?

Pink Floyd released Another Brick in the Wall in 1979. It was the second part of a three part rock opera. I didn’t know that. That explains the Part 2 I occasionally saw thrown in with the title. I just remember this was our rebellion anthem to school and homework. Who didn’t sing along when the chorus of kids sang the verse?

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

[Roger Waters & David Gilmour:]
We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teacher, leave them kids alone

Hey, teacher, leave them kids alone

All in all it's just another brick in the wall
All in all you're just another brick in the wall

[Pupils from the Fourth Form Music Class Islington Green School, London:]
We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers, leave them kids alone

Hey, teacher, leave us kids alone

All in all you're just another brick in the wall
All in all you're just another brick in the wall

[Roger Waters:]
Wrong! Do it again!
Wrong! Do it again!
If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding!
How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?!
You! Yes, you, behind the bike sheds. Stand still, laddie!

20 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: Another Brick in the Wall – Pink Floyd”

  3. Great post, thought-provoking. I only remember, off-hand, one of my early years teachers, Miss Tinkler. A memorable name! One of our sons is a teacher’s aide, studying to complete his teaching degree. He tells stories of students who quite literally have thanked him for keeping them alive. He teaches in an area with a high immigrant population and many of his students have seen the atrocities of war crimes.

    Teachers get a bad rap sometimes because of “all the holidays” but they have a hard job made that much harder by government cutbacks and the resulting lack of resources. So while the song doesn’t match the prompt exactly, it conveys the ‘1984’-esque corporate attitudes toward education that would lead any class to revolt.

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  4. You’re so right on about teachers! They work soooo hard and are underappreciated for all the time and energy they put into their work. Another Brick in the Wall brings back a lot of memories, lol. I never became a huge fan of Pink Floyd, but this song sure was a hit!

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  7. You had to remind me, didn’t you, that I can’t recall the names of several of my grade school teachers. It’s been driving me crazy for decades – !

    Kindergarten: Mrs. Howie, 1st, 2nd and half of 3rd grade- Mrs. Epstein. We moved in the middle of 3rd grade and the new teacher may have been Mrs. Conklin or not, she was one of my grade school teachers. 4th grade: total blank (tho it could have been Mrs. Conklin). 5th grade: No idea but I can picture what she looked like. 6th grade: the flamboyant Mrs. Forlano. 7th grade: Mrs. Walsh – a total bee-otch. 8th grade: The wonderful, marvelous, fabulous Mrs. Berryman.

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    1. I once thought about leaving corporate America and becoming a teacher. Then I did a comparative in my head and came to my senses. That job is tough! You have to have that certain something inside if you to want to teach. I wasn’t sure I had it.

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