Once so happy and proud to be a teacher, he now claims that he has done nothing. Ellis is way too old for his job now, he’s reached the point past the normal retirement and with his old ideas, he’s not qualified anymore.Īfter this, we not only see his life change, but we see his attitude shifting as well. Someone who can keep up, looking towards the future instead of always going back to the past. Because of his age, the Headmaster and Board of Trustees want someone younger to be teaching these classes. Ellis has to not only deal with something big and dramatic happening in his life, but he is feeling replaced. Now it’s used for when there is a big or dramatic change happening in which people are replaced. The changing of the guard originated as a term for guards at Buckingham Palace when the guards would change rotation and shifts. Let’s visit the meaning of “The Changing of the Guard” first because that’s very important to Ellis’ story. Written by Rod Serling, this give a fresh take on a lot of different themes. This is a bit of a dark story with a lesson I think we all could use in the holiday season and into the new year. Ellis is crushed, even cracking a joke about actually reading his mail, before he goes home and pulls out a gun for a plan that he thinks will be his only way out. His contract has been terminated after next semester. After 51 years of teaching at the school, he’s going to be replaced by a younger teacher. The Headmaster has to break the news to Ellis. ![]() Ellis says no, but knows that he’s going to be up for renewing his contract and tells the Headmaster he’ll get right on it. ![]() He wants to know if he’s read the letter from the Board of Trustees. Before returning home, the Headmaster asks to speak with him. He wants them to accomplish anything they put their minds too. He wants them to leave their marks like students before them. Even though his students daydream, half not paying attention to anything he says, he wants them to have the world. But… nice dunderheads, and potentially fine young men who will make their marks, and leave their marks.” “It is rare, young men, that in my 51 years of teaching, I have ever encountered such a class of dunderheads. After telling the kids they’ve passed and he’ll let them out early because of the holidays, he goes into insults, but makes up for it with the nicecitties. He realizes that these boys need something, a wake up call perhaps. ![]() Yup, most of them are eyes front, but still in la la land. He looks around the room at the boys while he reads from a poem. After giving a lesson, Ellis finds the boys preoccupied in their daydreams instead of in their studies. School’s just about to end for the semester and the final grading of papers are just about done. We begin this story three days before Christmas holiday. Most teachers by this point either reach their breaking point or stage of retirement, but Ellis is going strong. Before we go any further, let’s give him a round of applause for teaching this long. The Changing of the Guard gives us just a glimpse into the life of Ellis Fowler, a teacher who has taught at a boys preparatory school for 51 years. At his lowest point, he finds out that he’s been very valuable to the many young lads he’s taught over the years. Day after day, you wonder to yourself, did I motivate? Did I leave a mark? Did I make an impression? The Changing of the Guard (E3S37) lay these questions out as we take a man through his years of teaching. You wonder if you really made a difference in a kids life once they move on. You wonder if their information gets caught or does it slip through the cracks. You work with some of the brightest or most stubborn. The dedication and drive it must take to be a teacher. Did the advice go through? Did my words leave a big enough mark? Are we really important enough to change someone’s life? Think about this in the aspect of teachers. We think about it when we help our friends, family, strangers. ![]() I’m sorry, I truly don’t mean to make you sad this week.ĭo you leave an impression? A lot of people wonder that as they go through this world. Today’s lesson will come from The Changing of the Guard (S3E37). Hey hey hey! Time for another Christmas lesson from the Twilight Zone.
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