| As a kid growing up in public schools, I was | | | | enough. As if I was making a decision not to |
| not aware of the pendulums teachers and | | | | live up to my potential! |
| schools were forced to ride as innovations | | | | |
| came and left and as curriculums were adopted | | | | Needless to say, my primary years were full |
| and lost influence. I was, however, keenly | | | | of self doubt and anxiety. I spent many hours |
| aware of teachers and their influence on me | | | | in the nurse's room or going home because I |
| as a teacher. | | | | didn't "feel well." |
| | | | |
| I began school at age 4, turning 5 during | | | | I did have a few redeeming talents and my |
| October. I'm sure my entrance into school | | | | parents, thank God, capitalized on them. One |
| provided my Mom with a 2 ½ hour respite | | | | very important one was that I could sing! So |
| from chasing a hyperactive, very busy child. | | | | I sang, at church, at school, anywhere people |
| Immature and unfocused, I was allowed to play | | | | would gather. I was allowed into choir in the |
| my way through kindergarten unfettered and | | | | 2nd grade when no one else was admitted until |
| without considerable pain. | | | | 5th or 6th. Solos became a natural part of |
| | | | performing as did drama and memorization of |
| First grade however was a different story. I | | | | scriptures, songs and poetry. I could star in |
| shall never forget coming face to face with | | | | those areas and received lot of positive |
| my first grade teacher, her critical eye and | | | | strokes. I am sure these gifts along with me |
| her cutting tongue. My, how that woman could | | | | through those years. |
| use my name in vain! Constantly I heard | | | | |
| "PHYLLIS!" Not friendly uplifting manner, | | | | Then I met my "Hero Teacher" as I entered her |
| but hurled at me as a stone that was hurled | | | | room that first day of fourth grade. I'm sure |
| at the fabled giant. | | | | she had no idea what her melodious "Phyllis" |
| | | | and her warm welcoming behavior would do for |
| This teacher's strategy to stop me from | | | | me during my forth grade year and on into the |
| talking, which I did constantly, was to tie | | | | future. Mrs. F seemed to always try to find |
| the "talking bow" (a scarf) around my head | | | | the best in me. She began by announcing "You |
| leaving the bow perched upon my curly mop. | | | | sing! Will you lead the singing?" We were off |
| This symbol of my defiance was meant to | | | | to a great start, not only did she not use my |
| embarrass me into conformity. It didn't | | | | name in vain but seemed to like and esteem me |
| work. | | | | already. I wondered when that would change. |
| | | | |
| With adulthood I began sharing my talking bow | | | | A few weeks into the quarter, Mrs. F went on |
| story. One day a principle in California | | | | a home visit to our home one day after |
| shocked me by identifying my school, the | | | | school. I remember riding with this |
| teacher, and the year of my talking bow | | | | beautiful, at least to me, woman in this big |
| misery. When I responded hesitantly with | | | | car that seemed like a Cadillac through the |
| "yes" she remarked that, yes I did wear the | | | | streets of our town up to my home. I was so |
| talking bow more than anyone else. She | | | | proud! She was wonderful. As we arrived I |
| remembers seeing my pudgy red headed form | | | | became fearful that she would assault my |
| bounding down the hall sporting the talking | | | | parents with "Phyllis would be such a nice |
| bow and talking all the way. | | | | girl but..." |
| | | | |
| Not only was I doomed by my ever moving mouth | | | | But when our door opened and my Mom greeted |
| but teachers found keeping me in my seat to | | | | Mrs. F and she my Mom, all my fears |
| be a challenge many didn't accept with joy. | | | | disappeared. "Mrs. Harder you have a |
| Teacher after teacher was bewildered by | | | | wonderful daughter!" I was in shock, not |
| trying to manage my curiosity and | | | | buts, no mention of my talking, busyness, |
| hyperactivity. Many times I was put in "time | | | | lack of responsibility or whatever else my |
| out," tied to my desk (although this didn't | | | | parents had reported. She was my ally. I |
| hinder my escapades a bit. I would simply | | | | worked hard to live up to her expectations. |
| lock my knees under the desk and my rear | | | | Yes, she still had to discipline me at times |
| under the seat and walk around the room. So | | | | and no, I wasn't perfect from then on but I |
| much for keeping a busy kid down!) and was | | | | did try hard and didn't want to miss school, |
| sent to sit in the hall. I polished many | | | | no matter what happened. |
| chairs and got to know the janitor well while | | | | |
| keeping abreast of all the "hall happenings." | | | | This teacher is a teacher that makes a |
| | | | difference. She like thousands of educational |
| But the most devastating part of my | | | | professionals meets hundreds of thousands of |
| elementary years was my lack of skill in | | | | students yearly, ready and able to become |
| reading. I was slow. I could sound out words | | | | "Hero Teacher." As the school year begins, |
| and then not remember them moments later. I | | | | please remember: |
| was totally focused by my teachers on the | | | | |
| parts, sight words, sounds, getting it right | | | | 1. It's not the pendulum your on but the |
| so that they would leave me alone. I fond the | | | | people you empower that really matters. |
| process of reading and reading group | | | | |
| activities to be useless and risky. | | | | 2. They may not remember what you said but |
| Continually my parents were informed "Phyllis | | | | how you said it counts. |
| has such a potential but... Phyllis would be | | | | |
| such a great student but..." All those | | | | 3. Use children's names in value not in vain. |
| comments damned me to a belief that I was | | | | |
| lazy, good for nothing, and not working hard | | | | 4. Make Teaching and Learning a JOY! |