Have you ever felt like you have been set up for trouble or failure? Well I'm going to share with you the story of my arch-nemesis of second grade. Of all my years of education, this one teacher still leaves a bad memory in my mind. I can honestly say I probably tested her more than I should have, lol.
We moved to Stuttgart right before I started 2nd grade. I had been in private school until now and this would be my first taste of public school. We had small class sizes back then so the desks were arranged in a semi-circle design. Well my new best friend, Tina Lee, was on the other side of the circle. I don't remember her ever getting in trouble for talking. I, on the other hand, could be found touching my toes during recess, out in the hall, or writing ''I will not talk in class'' a hundred times as punishment. Being an only child, I got my 'writing' done without my parents knowing there was any trouble at school. I don't think my teacher liked me and the feeling was mutual. This same year at Halloween, somebody had the bright idea for the teachers to dress up at recess as witches and such and come out on the playground. It scared me so much that I ran home and they had to call my dad to bring me back to school. My memory of this year and the teacher may be a little biased but she did get fired the next year for her harsh punishment. I bet it was her paddle with holes in it. I had heard about one of the third grade teachers that you needed to pray that you didn't get chosen to be in her room, Ms. Bowen. Well guess where I ended up? It turned out that she was great and is one of my favorite teachers to this day. I still have the bald eagle made out of colored rice that I made in her class.
To be a good teacher takes a special gift and attitude. I hope you had a special teacher in your life that you have fond memories of. You can thank a teacher because you could read this blog.
I had some great teachers - Mrs. Cross and Mrs. McKinney stand out in my mind (First and third grade). But 2nd and 4th were a mixed bag:) I got my only spanking in 2nd grade - the whole class got a spanking for not writing the teacher's name right in cursive. (BUT, I can write her name correctly to this day!) And I remember my fourth grade teacher bringing in a recording of exhortations from her two sons, urging us to live right so we wouldn't end up in prison... as they had...:)
ReplyDeleteI always find your blog interesting, I learn more about you each day. Now about writing 100 times "I will not talk in Class"..................
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Miss Otwell --2nd grade. She had us wash our desks with apple scented shaving cream. I loved that lady!
ReplyDeleteMiss Geneva Castle was my favorite. She encouraged me to learn, to grow, to write poetry, even to dance. The year I was in her class I danced in a minuet with a big hoop skirt. 6th grade.
ReplyDeleteI had several favorite teachers, but one of my very favorite was Mrs. Tull, my sixth grade teacher. All the kids in the class before me said, "You had better hope you don't get Mrs. Tull next year...she is so hard." Well, like you Angie, guess who I got? Mrs. Tull! She was one of my best teachers ever and I learned so much in her classroom. We remained friends until her dying day. She gave me a recipe for "Jam Cake" (her favorite cake) when I got married and many, many years later, when she was in the retirement center at Parkway Village in LR, I made that cake from her recipe and took it to her and her husband and had lunch with them. I went to see her several times while she lived there, and also went to her funeral about 10 years ago. She told me that I was also one of her favorite students. God places us just where we are supposed to be. I am so thankful for having had Mrs. Tull not only as my sixth grade teacher, but as my lifelong inspiration and friend. Thank you for bringing back this sweet memory....love you, Twylia
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