Teacher's Pet

Episode aired Jan 26, 1983
TV-PG
30m

IMDb RATING

8.0/10

YOUR RATING

Comedy Family

Jo learns that her favorite teacher is terminally ill.Jo learns that her favorite teacher is terminally ill.Jo learns that her favorite teacher is terminally ill.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.0/10

YOUR RATING

1User review

See production info at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
It is never revealed what Gail is dying from.

Quotes
Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey: [about Gail] She must be so scared.
Joanne 'Jo' Polniaczek: I'll tell you what's scary. What's scary is living and not having it mean anything.
Edna Garrett: Is that what you think's happened to Gail?
Joanne 'Jo' Polniaczek: She spent her whole life, working and studying, trying to make something of herself. What's the point if it can be taken away from you at 26? What's the difference?
Edna Garrett: You are, you, and everyone who's ever been in her class. Someone can live to be 80 years old, have nothing to show for it. Gail has you.
Joanne 'Jo' Polniaczek: She should have more time!
Edna Garrett: I know.

Connections
References The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Soundtracks
Happy Birthday to You
(uncredited)
Written by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill
Performed by Mindy Cohn and Kim Fields

User reviews1

Review

Featured review

7/10

This episode wouldn't be allowed today -

I assumed the worst when this episode started.

The world has gotten so crazy, and people have gotten so used to assume the worst both in the telling of a story, and in the possible outcome of a situation, that this kind of situation could never have worked in a current show.

A teacher is no longer able to be outside friends with a student bec. everyone assumes the worst and is afraid of the worst happening.

A teacher locally here in Utah got helped a younger student find her way home and got disciplined for it. A high school principal drives three intoxicated students home after an activity, rather than causing more problems for them by calling the authorities, and he was disciplined for it.

The world has gotten so crazy, that someone such as the character of Gail could not have been written as simply a teacher spending some extra time with a student who she can relate to bec. of similar life challenges bec. of everyone thinking the worst about her, and thinking that she is going to do the worst.

A friend of mine who is a jr. high and h.s. band instructor who is very close to her students has very carefully even avoided adding any of her students as Facebook friends.

Singles have the same issues. People assume the worst about us and are fearful of us.

So sad.