It’s World Teacher Day today so let’s celebrate the amazing work you all do! I have listed a few of the best (and a few of the worst) teachers in children’s books, but who is your favourite fictional teacher and why?
The best
Miss Honey from Matilda by Roald Dahl
Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
Mr Gee from Once Upon an Ordinary School Day by Colin McNaughton and Satoshi Kitamura (ill.)
Miss Lupescu from The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Miss Strechberry from Love that Dog by Sharon Creech
Mrs Peterson from The Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polacco (many of her books feature inspirational teachers)
Mr Tushman in Wonder by RJ Palacio
The worst
Miss Trunchball from Matilda by Roald Dahl
The headmaster in The Demon Headmaster by Gillian Cross
Dolores Umbridge and Professor Snape from the Harry Potter series (although appearances can be deceptive…)
Who else can you add to the list?
Hello! I think one of the most unpleasant teachers in children’s books has to be Mrs Ebbel, from There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom, by Louis Sacher. Mrs Ebbel is so unkind to Bradley, and even though he’s naughty and a bit rebellious, he doesn’t deserve to be singled out so negatively by His class teacher. I remember reading this book to my year 5 class, and they sensed the injustice! It’s a great book by the way, for anyone who hasn’t read it yet!
Oh yes, Mrs Ebbel! She is very unpleasant. I remember the bit at the start of the book where she doesn’t intervene when the children talk about how horrible it would be to sit next to Bradley, and she even apologises to the new student who has to sit there. There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom is a great book though. Thanks for pointing this one out Kerenza!