Benet is defined by its dedicated teachers. With twenty-nine years spent teaching at Benet, Mr. Patrick Doyle has certainly left a lasting impact on not only the Benet community as a whole, but also hundreds if not thousands of alumni and current students. He teaches Honors English 1, Collegiate America Since 1945, and AP US History. As a double major in English and history, he appreciates how the two subjects compliment each other. Despite teaching in two departments, he has no preference amongst his classes.
What makes Mr. Doyle such a good teacher is his strong philosophy. He explains, “It all comes down to reading. If there is no reading, then there is no learning.” In fact, he wishes that all students would read more on their own initiative, not just when a teacher forces them to. The power of a good book such as Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, one of his favorites, is something he strongly believes in. He also thinks that teachers themselves need to study their subject alongside students. If teachers work hard, students will be encouraged to work hard, allowing teachers to better teach the material.
Mr. Doyle first started considering teaching as a profession when he was in high school at Benet. He met many teachers who were such an inspiration to him that he wanted to follow in their footsteps. Three who made a major impression on him were his junior year British literature teacher Mr. White, his senior year history teacher Mr. Nagis, and his senior year English teacher Mr. Stracco. He truly enjoys his job, especially when he is able to help students understand difficult topics. He believes that learning is about managing hard scenarios; he loves when students surprise themselves with how much they can achieve. Every job has its challenges, but whenever he is unhappy with teaching, Mr. Doyle reminds himself how lucky he is to have the job that he has wanted since high school.
Many people say that Benet has changed drastically over the past few decades. While Mr. Doyle does acknowledge the changes that have been made, he does not think that the heart of Benet has changed, because all students who come through this building are still humans with potential. Despite what is going on around them, they all have similar struggles and similar feelings that accompany big accomplishments. He has noticed that the values instilled into Benet by the monks who founded it still run strong. In order to succeed, students must work hard, be organized, and take personal responsibility for their own learning. Mr. Doyle is truly a valuable member of the Benet community because of his superb dedication and skill.
