Tomorrow is Susan's last day to have kids. I can hear her quietly crying as I'm writing this out. I know it will pass. However, I understand why... 36 years of teaching children is a hard thing to give up. I found her yesterday going through years of pictures and items that make up her memories. Like the rubber sharks that her kids gave her for a few years -- as she was known then as the shark, because nothing got by her. Then it was the rubber witches as she was known as The Witch.... She has a quilt that year's back her kids made and all of them signed it... it was on her lap as she was looking at yeastier-year's photos...
She is my baby-girl and I'm so proud of her that it hurts with love of my appreciation for her feelings and caring she has given all of these years.
Olds
You are both very lucky to have each other Raye and I am sure you will support her through this as you have obviously supported each other though life's trials and tribulations over the years.
There have clearly been some very lucky children to have had such a teacher. Wish her all the best for a life away from the "classroom". :)
Though she may not have a formal job as teacher, she will never loose those skills and abilities. Now that she has control of her own schedule, I hope she will be able to still involve herself with children. There are so many projects, and organization developed to help children, I'm sure any of these would be glad to have her on their team.
Having retired after 33 years of teaching in rural WV, I can relate to the emotions. I wish her great success as she enters the next phase of her life. Her real rewards are yet to come though as she sees her efforts mature into outstanding citizens, and they return to simply say thank you.
I am a teacher with almost ten years of experience. It is an amazing feat to stay with it that long. There is so much in this profession that can turn a good teacher south. It is only love and respect of kids and what they can be that will keep one going. I have alot of respect for anyone that can stay with it that long, and still be motivated. Obviously your wife is one of those. Pass on a congratulations for a job well done from me.
Malc
Pass a congrats to your wife for teaching our youth. Someday they will look back and say yeah i really liked my teacher Susan, she tought me so much.
nepas
Thanks folks... personally I'm somewhat wet in my eyes and I don't know what to expect in the next couple of hours when she comes home... I can only hold her and speak of soft things of yester-year.... Then tomarrow speak, of the days yet to come.
She declided a send off party by the school .... but on the 2nd saturday of July there is going to be one hellva party in her name.... at this writting I know there will a couple of hundred of people there... some friends, some empolyees -- teachers she worked with, but most important there will be at least 8 students she taught that grew up and she taught 6 of their children... I bet there will be tears that night...
When something ends... IMO it does not get any better than this.
Again thanks for your words...
Raye
aka Olds.
I got nothing new, but wanted to say congratulations to the Mrs.
I like the delayed party idea. It'll be more memorable than a last day of school party would be, and sometimes ya just want those closest to you on occasions like this.
(http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Respect/respect-023.gif)To Susan, spending 36 years as a teacher is something to be very proud of (http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Big-Thumbs-Up.gif)
Well Raye, although a very emotional time for Susan, it sounds like a very well earned rest is in order, and maybe you could start taking things a bit more easy yourself, and the two of you can enjoy some quality time together ;)
Also i know three's a crowd, but maybe the MG could tag along with you both (http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Wink.gif)
Next to a child's parents, I think that teachers have the most influence on the proper development of our children, and their value cannot be underestimated. I marvel at their patience and persistence in the care and passion they exhibit in this honorable profession. Raye, your Susan has had a hand in guiding the proper progress of countless numbers of children, and there cannot be enough kudos, thanks, or praise given her for her dedication to them. My congratulations to her and best wishes for a deserved and well earned retirement.
Best Regards,
Greg
Quote from: gpsmoker on May 18, 2007, 01:18:33 PM
Next to a child's parents, I think that teachers have the most influence on the proper development of our children, and their value cannot be underestimated.
Sadly sometimes the teachers actually have more of a positive influence than the parents.
My congrat to the Mrs. as well.
Good luck in the future old for you both.You and susan deserve the best and the rest. ;D ;D
Again thanks all for your comments and wishes.
The school gave her a nice plaque. As I posted earlier the second Saturday of July we are having a surprise party for her... NOW it looks like a couple of hundred folks... some past teachers, some past students whose children were also taught by Susan, and many folks that she has touched over the years...
(On the down side you know my C-card will take a hit that night~~! ;D )
One of her past students who just graduated came and spent the day with her today... they played cards, and talked. It was a good day for her.
Tomarrow she is going with me to do a building inspection. Sunday she learns how to do the payroll....
Hey Olds,
On the bright side, now she can get that new smoker she never knew she always wanted....plus accessories. Don't forget the accessories!
I smell a cook-off at the Minor house!
Congrats on a job well done. Enjoy your retiremnent Teach.
Look on the bright side Raye you and Susan can do the things you've always wanted to do (together now) my wife retires after 33 yrs in August and we can't wait to go and travel if we can afford the fuel to go,,,, Best wishes on a new fronteer ;)
QuoteLook on the bright side Raye you and Susan can do the things you've always wanted to do (together now)
I wish we could but we own a business.....
I keep reading this thread. My little girl is just finishing her first year of teaching at kindergarten level. Was a tough year with a number of special needs kids woven into the class. I am going the email this to her. She is going to be a great teacher. Seems like a cycle of legacy continuing.
Certainly Susan has contributed greatly during her career. It just strikes me as one of the most impactful occupations possible. I would hope for my daughter that in 2043 she will have a night just like susan. Hope the party goes well.
Chuck
Chuck
QuoteHope the party goes well.
Heh he he... The last one I did was all you eat and drink... One of my employees had 2 large T-bone dinners and then he also took a lobster dinner home. He also had 12 shooters. He is a big man 6' 4" and around 330 pounds. What was a little scary was I had to take his keys away from him and put him in a cab. I'm a whole 5' 8" 160 pounds~~! Crap his neck is bigger than the top of my legs.
About your daughter do tell her that if there is one thing that never changes in teaching is the problems are the same no matter what school a teacher goes to. In Susan's school every year there would be 1st and 2nd year teachers that move on to another school. Only to learn that nothing changes.
If you daughter is going to teach until she retires I suggest the following.
1. Grow a thick skin.
2. Pick a school and plant her feet.
3. There are worse and better years.
4. Admin moves on about every 3 -4 years.
5. Keep a running daily notebook of that day's events.... Trust me on this one.
6. Take pictures of all kids every year, and place a comment about that child on the back on the photo... date it. Later those images will be very important.
Little things will become important as she retires. Like Susan brought home two 36 year old yard sticks. What is very interesting about them is they are made of hard wood and have a finish on them....
Our best to your daughter.
Raye & Susan
Olds,
I bet 36 years ago she didn't have any discipline problems with that yard stick in the classroom. ;D
Probably didn't have to use it either, just knowing it was there and it could be used would have been enough.
I have one of them as well that I received from my parents many years ago. Probably seen it back in my younger years as well but from a rear perspective. ;) Stanley Rule & Level Co. New Britain, Conn. No. 80. Complete with brass ends.
Quote from: Gizmo on May 22, 2007, 09:48:06 PM
Olds,
I bet 36 years ago she didn't have any discipline problems with that yard stick in the classroom. ;D
Probably didn't have to use it either, just knowing it was there and it could be used would have been enough.
I have one of them as well that I received from my parents many years ago. Probably seen it back in my younger years as well but from a rear perspective. ;) Stanley Rule & Level Co. New Britain, Conn. No. 80. Complete with brass ends.
LOL...I went to elementary school in the last days of paddling. I remember one teacher used to hang his paddle(which was shaped to look like a shark) on the back of his door. When he would close the door at the beginning of class it would bang on the back of the door a couple times. That was enough for me to never want to see the business end of that thing.
One of my best memories is of visiting my "witch/shark/dragon lady" teacher/principal a few years after I entered "life after school" in the early 70s. She had retired, (and she must have been 102 when she was still teaching me! :o ), and was living in a dinky little rental in Ashland, Oregon. She was a strict disciplinarian and broke a few paddles on my padded backside (and I deserved every one!), she taught ALL 5 of my ranch-reared brothers, and was as tough as rawhide. But I saw something in that visit that I never thought she possessed .....tears! They were, of course, tears of joy that she had meant enough in someone's life that they would return as an adult (well, with me THAT "adult" part is STILL debatable! ::) ), and thank her for her stong and positive influence on my life. I'm certain that Susan will see these kind of visits, Raye! (Probably already has, even before retiring!).
My congrats and BEST to both of you.....hopefully she'll use one of those yardsticks to pummel you into retirement and enjoying more of what life has to offer....together! ;) ;D
I'm "in the business" myself, just finishing my 23rd year of teaching. Today we took 75 7 to 11 year old kids to our local salmon stream to release 180 salmon fry that we raised at our school. Watching these little gaffers whispering "good luck" and "look out for orcas" as they gently emptied their little baggie of water and fry into the river was great. I do this every year to try and connect these urban kids to their environment--to show them through caring and rearing for these fish that what we do has an effect on the world around us. Course, I take a big ribbing from the parents over conflict of interest. They tease me that I get the kids to raise salmon and then I go out and catch the returnees! :D I tell them I have to put something in my Bradley! If you love kids it's a great job, despite all the challenges.
T2
Now THAT'S a school program that should receive 'PRIORITY' funding.....(and Alaska should help out!!) Keep raising 'em and sending 'em North, Tom ;) ;D
Thanks Olds and Susan, I have past on the advice. Her response was "Thank you" ;)
QuoteKeep raising 'em and sending 'em North, Tom
I should have told those kids to whisper "Watch out for Kummok, he's a bad bad man!"
:D
T2
Olds,
I have been waiting for the right time to post this. I have been too busy. Things have temporarily slowed down at work. I'm going from a 65 hour a week to a 40 hour one.
Up until 3 weeks ago I had no idea how many excellent school teachers there are.
My grandson, Taylor has a male teacher, Mr M., that has been looking out for him. He just graduated from the 5th grade. My grand son has a mischievous side to him. Taylor lives by a golf course and he did some slight vandalizing to a golf cart. Mr M. found out and called the police. I have no problem with that. Mr M. also went to all of Taylor's football games
When my grandson was told that his father had died, Mr M. , another teacher and a councilor were there for him. This was on Friday.
On Saturday afternoon He came over to Taylor's house to spend the afternoon with him.
On Sunday I had a cook out for Taylor's fathers wife and her side of the family and some of Taylors school friends.. Mr M. was invited. He had a beer but he put it in a coffee mug because he did not want to drink in front of his students. Taylor noticed some foam from his "coffee" mug and said " That not coffee, your drinking a beer". Mr M. was caught.
The visitation was on Memorial day and many of the teachers showed up. Mr M. and some other teachers stayed the whole time.
The funeral was on Tuesday, Mr M. and Taylor,s 4th grade teacher came and afterward there was a picnic.
2 weeks later Taylor graduated from 5th grade and my daughter had a cook out and Mr M. was there.
I asked Mr M. what his hobbies were and he said looking after his students, golfing and tennis. He also said that he'll be checking on Taylor through out the summer.
Olds, I am sure that your wife has had a positive influence on many of her students and I am sure that you are very proud of her. It must be difficult for her to retire.
God bless you and Susan, Brad