Susan Senator
All happy families are not alike...
All happy families are not alike...
Good Teachers Make the World Go Round
Benj’s third grade teacher was also his second grade teacher. They kept the classs together for two years because they had done so well with her and third grade curriculum was new to her. She is a total youngster, young enough to be my daughter, yet she was a pro from the start. She is very centered, very wise, and a lovely woman, too. Libby is getting married at the end of this school year, so the parents decided to throw her a bridal shower that the kids could be a part of.
I am one of the room parents, so I went with another mom to Tiffany’s and we bought her champagne flutes and a crystal apple with the money we had collected from the parents. We also got decorations (a white lace parasol, rose petals, candy kisses, fake gold rings for all the kids!) and we decorated the beautiful cafeteria. That is not an oxymoron. I say “beautiful cafeteria” with all seriousness. The kids’ school is the pride of the town, built in the early 1990’s to replace a falling down old thing. This whole part of town was renewed because of the school and the dynamo principal who reigned for as many years. It is a gorgeous building, designed by architect Graham Gund to fit in with the 19th century neighborhood, so it is brick, lots of windows, and a slate roof! The cafeteria is a renovated carriage house, also from the 19th century, with long palladian windows all around it. So we were able to make a beautifully decorated place for her, all white streamers and stuff.
The kids were so excited and we all hid and yelled “Surprise” when she came in! Her fiance was also there. We had cake and juice and I wrote a song for her:
Lovely Libby
(sung to the tune of “Lovely Rita,” by The Beatles)Lovely Libby
Teacher-Made
Where would we be without you?
We gave you our kids
Such things you did with them!Met her when
They were just tiny
Thought her smile was always shiny
Told her we would really like her to teach them againGot her for third
We knew we’d made it
Our kids’ success was truly fated
Sitting in the classroom with Ms. Brent, too!Oh, Lovely Libby
Teacher-Made
Nothing can come between us
We move to grade four
We’ll always adore — YOU!!
I think she was very pleased with the whole thing. I know we have been more than pleased with her. She has taken Ben by the hand and gently led him into academic and social success. She understands him, she adores him, and she doesn’t take any crap from him, either. I will really miss her when he starts fourth grade and I know deep down in his little tough guy heart, Ben will, too. Good teachers make the world go round.
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Teachers like that are pure gold. *grin* And what you all did for her sounds lovely.
They’re like gold, good teachers. We certainly treasure ours.
Best wishes
Hear, hear! A rousing cheer for teachers! I am writing an ode to my daughter’s teacher; it’s in my draft bin right now. Can’t find the words yet to express how he has affected the dynamic of our entire family with his understanding and gentleness.
Sounds like Libby is a gem; I remember that you had a post awhile back of Nat and his beautiful teacher. May your boys keep receiving the wonderful teachers they deserve.
Wow. Where do I begin?
I’m a teacher too, and also looped with a group of kids for two years (though that was pre-planned, not decided part way through). Parents and kids talked to me on a frequent basis about how well things worked out. I poured my heart and soul into it, and the kids and parents did too. And I also got married during that two year stretch with those kids. Yet as a gay person, I got a drastically different reception than your child’s teacher did.
If only all grade 3 teachers were as good as yours Susan! I think the world is full of good, caring teachers but it only takes one (or two in my case) to taint my opinion of the rest of them. I am hopeful, the year is almost over and we will start fresh in the fall with someone new – maybe even with someone who cares about the kids…
That’s so nice and thoughtful. The kids must have loved it. The original lyrics were about a Meter Maid. What is the significance of Teacher-Made? Shouldn’t it be Teacher Maid, as in maiden and not the kind of maid who cleans other people’s messes? I have no idea why this bothers me, other than the fact that I used to be an editor and I think about language a lot.