Can robots and machines replace a teacher in a classroom? I pose this question in light of the excitement around the Fourth Industrial Revolution that has taken the world by storm with concerns about the future of work Already in South Africa, banks are laying people off because of mechanisation, the University of Pretoria has employed a service robot in its library, developments that add to the concerns that the future of work is in danger. A study by the McKinsey Global Institute reports that 50% of companies believe that automation will decrease their numbers of full-time staff by 2022, and robots will replace 800 million workers across the world by 2030. In addressing the question of whether machines will replace teachers, allow me to take you through memory lane to reflect on the work of three great teachers from the rural village of Marapyane who left an indelible mark on my schooling in a way that no machine or robot could have. Mr Piet Makinta, my Standard 7 (Grade 9) Afrikaans teacher was an outstanding teacher who came to class every day, gave us classwork almost every day, and the turnaround time for marking our classwork was 24 hours. He was an example of a teacher who loved his subject and passed on the passion and desire to learn more to his students. When the teacher not only has the right answer to a student's question but can also expand the discussion with vivid examples and relevant facts; and when the teacher has a deep well of understanding and expertise to draw on, then every lesson is enriched, and every student might be inspired. Mr Makinta showed discipline and dedication towards his work and this had an infectious effect on us. We looked forward to his class, anticipated acquiring new vocabulary of the language of the oppressor and had fun learning through amusing illustrative anecdotes that led us to develop love for this language.