Mrs. Burley was an old lady by the time I came to her 5th grade class. She was both very tough and very gentle where required. I knew both sides well.
She emphasized the need for proper grammar and especially spelling. She and My Mother conspired to help me overcome some discipline and concentration issues.
During the World Series that fall she stopped class, put on her Yankees hat and tuned the game on her table radio. She was Grandmotherly and lovely and funny, but very strict with nonsense. She got speech therapy for me and took the time for caring about me at a very difficult and important time in my life.

Some many years later I read her obituary in the local paper. She had retired to live in South Carolina, but was returned here by her daughter to be interred.
I made it a point to attend her graveside service and speak with her daughter about what she meant to a troubled little boy in tumultuous 1966. I couldn't help but cry, because I had never told anyone else. It seemed to mean a lot to her. It sure meant a lot to me.

I have to say a HUGE ty to my son's teacher "Suzie". I swear that woman is a saint!!

Thank you...




 

 muzik wrote: 
Thanks!

 dmax wrote: 

I lost Ms. Lancon last month. She taught us French back in high school - although we didn't realize she was only 8 years older than most of us - and was a lot of fun. Had a Barbra Streisand fro and a big smile. Married our coach, which was a bit of a surprise.

Still she seemed to have a great life, although she passed away relatively young. Sad. Life is too short, I think.

50 Photos from the 50-State Rallies to Save the American Dream

On Saturday, February 26th, Americans in all 50 states rallied to show solidarity with the people of Wisconsin, and to save the American Dream. It was a beautiful, powerful sight.
 

In all my years of education, I only had 2 teachers that tested my thinking. Or demanded my respect because of THEIR thinking. 8th grade, then one of my best friends dad as a jr in college.

I know one day I WILL be that teacher.

Thank you, Mrs. Burley. You were a major force for good at a critical moment in my life.

 duchamp wrote: 
Wow... maybe I should move to Florida and learn to teach.

 duchamp wrote: 
according to your contract, you have to have very loose morals?

 BasmntMadman wrote: 
I am still a certified teacher and they look up our @ssholes...................nothing is held back.. even exponged records..  and every five years when you re-certify they print again...   Also, your contract includes a very loose morality clause.....  Florida...

I only scrolled back so far, so if I missed the mark here,please just overlook me.    

 newwavegurly wrote: 
I can understand the rationale, all right.  But it's expensive, at $75, and, when you come right down to it, insulting.   Seventy five dollars is expensive to me, at least.

There are all sorts of jobs in which a sick individual could wreak havoc on society.  Any low-level job involving food handling, for example.  And these people aren't given any sort of background check. 

And I remember when the day care provider witch hunt was in full gear (in the eighties, IIRC).  I have to wonder if this isn't just a continuation of the whole sorry hysterical trend.

What's really disconcerting is knowing that some dolt of a flunky somewhere could make a mistake and my fingerprint could be linked to some sordid crime.  In the godawful US legal system, defense against any sort of criminal charge is ruinously expensive, unless one wanted to rely upon the public defender, who'd have 5 minutes to consider my case. 

 BasmntMadman wrote: 
Ah, okay. Sarcasm doesn't always come across as such in this medium, especially when you don't really know the person.
 
I don't know that there's anything wrong with fingerprinting potential teachers. I imagine it would give pause to anyone that did have a deviant past of some sort if they wanted to move into the field of public education. 

 newwavegurly wrote: 
Yeah, I know that.  I was being sarcastic.  I think teaching is a noble profession, and this fingerprinting crap just seems to be indicative of a society that appears bent on bashing teachers, and relegating them to the ranks of low level grunts who can be kicked when they don't perform as desired.

I think the fucks who threw spitballs at the teachers when they were young fucks have become adult fucks who now influence policy.

 BasmntMadman wrote: 
Painting all teachers with this broad of a brushstroke is unfair to the good ones out there.
 
And FYI, most public school systems DO fingerprint their teachers. 

Thank Fingerprint, like a crime suspect, a teacher today.  My God, they have such a tendency to be Sex Fiends who might get their wicked paws on our innocent moppets.  They're such unreliable help.  And all they do is proffer that book-learnin' that's such foolishness. 

 newwavegurly wrote: 
  Yes, many of us on here teach and not necessarily in a classroom!

 newwavegurly wrote: