"Boy Meets World" was one of the best (probably the best, but I'm not here to pick fights) shows of the '90s.
I'm not even going to ask if you remember it because I know you do. And I know you watched it every Friday night when TGIF (sing the theme song with me) was still a thing. What other show handled such difficult topics as bullying and cheating (Cory, no!) with as much flair as "BMW"? And what other show had a teacher like Mr. Feeny who, aside from the fact that he stalked the kids to college after they graduated high school, always felt like the best educator on television.
Did you ever wish Mr. Feeny was your teacher? Or get upset the Matthews boys didn't recognize what an amazing font of wisdom they had living right next door?
Mr. Feeny knew everything.
[rebelmouse-image 19533779 dam="1" original_size="450x338" caption="GIF from "Boy Meets World."" expand=1]GIF from "Boy Meets World."
And he was also an amazing dancer. (Just have to throw that in there.)
[rebelmouse-image 19533780 dam="1" original_size="450x338" caption="GIF from "Boy Meets World."" expand=1]GIF from "Boy Meets World."
Above all else, though, Mr. Feeny was an ideal educator. Like all the best teachers, he didn't just lecture on literature and history. He was a mentor, a father figure, an adviser, and a confidante. He was stern when he needed to be (and you know Shawn needed it), but he never stopped believing in his students and their ability to become the best versions of themselves and make the world a better place.
Mr. Feeny may not have been a real teacher, but the actor who played him, William Daniels, has immense respect for educators.
For National Teacher Appreciation Day, the 91-year-old thespian stopped by E! to send an important message to everyone who's been influenced by an instructor.
"Today is National Teachers Day, and as a well-respected former educator at John Adams High, I'm here to encourage you to show some appreciation for the unsung heroes that help shape the future generations," Daniels said. "Our teachers provide us with so much. They're there for you in your formative years, supply the knowledge you need to take on the world, and even give you unsolicited advice from behind the fence in their backyard."
"I'm talking to you, Mr. Matthews," he added, because you know this trip down memory lane wouldn't be complete without a pointed reference at Mr. Feeny's favorite/most frustrating student.
Daniels has two main pieces of advice that go beyond just Teacher Appreciation Day.
First: "Thank your teachers today and every day. And remember — as much as you learn from them, they learn from you."
Second, (and OK, you're about to get misty-eyed): "Believe in yourselves. Dream. Try. Do good. I love you all. Class dismissed."
If that line sounds familiar, it's because it's an iconic scene from the show — one that still rings true today.
Whether you're in school now or haven't been in years, take a second to thank a teacher. Let them know they're doing amazing work. And if nothing else, don't forget to believe in yourself and do good.
Now if you'll excuse me, there are about 158 episodes of this show I need to rewatch. It's clear the life lessons are just as relevant now as they were when I was in middle school.