High Life / A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Want to Get In Good With Teacher? Just Say the Word

L.A. Times Archives

Jan. 30, 1992 12 AM PT

Not long ago, Times columnist Jack Smith took the position that teen-agers were merely trying to get on the good side of their teachers when they responded by listing classic literature to a poll asking them to name the books that most affected their lives.

Was he right? Hot Topics wonders, “What’s the worst thing you’ve ever said or done to butter up a teacher?”

“I tell my male teachers I love their ties.”

Wendy Danbeck, 18,

senior, Fullerton

“ ‘I know your daughter, she’s brilliant. She must get it from her mother.’ ”

Christina Ness, 17,

junior, University

“I spent $62 taking a teacher and her husband out to dinner.”

Royce Lin, 17,

senior, Villa Park

“I pretend I care about what they are telling me and act interested. Also, I ask about what extra work I can do to better my understanding of the class . . . but I never do it.”

Dennis Fredenberg, 17,

junior, Fullerton

“ ‘You’re my favorite teacher.’ ”

Kevin Kuritsky, 15,

freshman, University

“I told the teacher she looked very young.”

Eugenia Liu, 17,

senior, Villa Park

“I brought apples for her a lot, and when the evaluations came out, I wrote the best one, even though I hated her.”

Katy Poncirol, 14,

freshman, Fullerton

“ ‘You’re beautiful.’ ”