Why Was That Memorable Teacher so Memorable?

One of the arguments put forth by people who emphasize the role of the instructor in distance education is that teachers often influence our lives in very positive ways. People will say things like "I remember Mrs. Jones in third grade who really helped me get over some hurdle and restored my confidence." This is a good thing and I don't wish to diminish it. Having people to influence us in positive ways is, well, positive. However, I would ask - Why was Mrs. Jones so memorable?

Was the moment of inspiration and support from Mrs. Jones so memorable because it was such a rare occurrence? What about all the time spent with other teachers? Why was that time no so memorable? Was it because they really weren't all that good?

As you think back over all the dozens and dozens of teachers you have had for thousands of hours, how many fall into the categories of memorable, forgettable, or even want to forget? I think most people nostalgically interpret those three minutes of inspiration from Mrs. Jones as an endorsement of the teaching profession. I would say that if that is all you can remember from dozens of teachers over thousands of hours that is hardly an endorsement.