A dear teacher died
I found out this morning while talking with my brother that my fifth-grade teacher, Sister Madonna Marie, died recently. This woman was a big bear of a woman ... we would call her obese now. But she made such a big impact on my life. I wouldn't be the person I am today without her.
She was the one who diagnosed my speech impediment. I was a shy kid (yeah, I know, those of you who have met me, either in person or on the phone are saying, yeah, right), but back then, kids laughed at me and teased me for my ugly orthotic shoes (flat feet, even back then), for being overweight and for the way I talked. We didn't know what the speech problem was but I didn't answer a lot in class because I was made fun of, even though I knew the answers and was smart. So one year at a parent-teacher conference, Sister brought that up to my mom. She wasn't sure what the problem was, just that I had a speech issue. We didn't have a speech therapist at the Catholic school, but we could go to the one at the public school. So off I went, twice a week at 1 p.m. for therapy. It was there I learned I had a lisp and got help for it.
But I would never have gotten help if Sister Madonna Marie hadn't intervened. And she also was the first one to show an interest in my writing. I'd write her letters, send her my stories and she was interested in them, she'd praise them, critique them for me. She set me on the path to being a writer and editor.
Teachers do so much for children. We don't realize that when we're kids. It's not until we're much older that we understand their influence on our lives. I owe a lot to Sister Madonna Marie.
Rest in peace, Sister. You have influence many people over the years, including me.
She was the one who diagnosed my speech impediment. I was a shy kid (yeah, I know, those of you who have met me, either in person or on the phone are saying, yeah, right), but back then, kids laughed at me and teased me for my ugly orthotic shoes (flat feet, even back then), for being overweight and for the way I talked. We didn't know what the speech problem was but I didn't answer a lot in class because I was made fun of, even though I knew the answers and was smart. So one year at a parent-teacher conference, Sister brought that up to my mom. She wasn't sure what the problem was, just that I had a speech issue. We didn't have a speech therapist at the Catholic school, but we could go to the one at the public school. So off I went, twice a week at 1 p.m. for therapy. It was there I learned I had a lisp and got help for it.
But I would never have gotten help if Sister Madonna Marie hadn't intervened. And she also was the first one to show an interest in my writing. I'd write her letters, send her my stories and she was interested in them, she'd praise them, critique them for me. She set me on the path to being a writer and editor.
Teachers do so much for children. We don't realize that when we're kids. It's not until we're much older that we understand their influence on our lives. I owe a lot to Sister Madonna Marie.
Rest in peace, Sister. You have influence many people over the years, including me.
I'm sorry to hear about your old teacher.
It is true, many of us have a special teacher in our hearts that helped us in some way. Mine was Miss Metz. When I was in NY last month and visiting my Aunts and Uncles and Sister, we were talking about her. I come from a very small town. Miss Metz taught High School English to both of my parents, all of their siblings, my sister and I and all of our cousins. She was your typical spinster school teacher who lived for her students. I'm not sure how old she was when she retired. But I remember my Mom saying she looked like an old lady when Mom had her in high school!
It is true, many of us have a special teacher in our hearts that helped us in some way. Mine was Miss Metz. When I was in NY last month and visiting my Aunts and Uncles and Sister, we were talking about her. I come from a very small town. Miss Metz taught High School English to both of my parents, all of their siblings, my sister and I and all of our cousins. She was your typical spinster school teacher who lived for her students. I'm not sure how old she was when she retired. But I remember my Mom saying she looked like an old lady when Mom had her in high school!
Grammylew in Jax
All of my grade-school teachers (well, most of them) were spinsters; they were nuns (there were a few married women in there, too). Then, in 7th and 8th grade, the school hired two male teachers: Mr. Grzonka and Mr. Cuneo. Oh, my, we girls thought they were something else. Mr. G was very nice; I had him for classes in 7th grade and he also ran a drama club. Cuneo, on the other hand, had issues; the year I had him in 8th grade, he lost part of his thumb and a finger water-skiing. He was really nasty after that. He used to take some girls in the back and paddle them on the butt. Eventually, he got caught doing something worse and was fired.
Ah, memories.
Ah, memories.
Eileen I am sorry to hear of that precious Sister passing away! I never really had one that was special to me. I do remember my 5th grade teacher that was a lay person though!!! She flunked me!!!! I hated her ever since!!!! I lost ALL my friends because of that woman flunking me!!!! And after I was divorced from my first husband, I went with a girlfriend to a parents without partners and guess who was there!!!! Yup!!! Mrs Gamble!!!! I told her that I hated her for flunking me and I still hated her!!!! She gave me that hateful look that some teachers had and I got up from that table and left. Sorry but I never forgave that lady for what she did to me by flunking me!!! All my friends went ahead without me and made fun of me because I was held back a year...so unfair!!! But now years later I guess they really weren't friends afterall were they?
HUGS
Hugs Eileen,
I too had some wonderful teachers who were the greatest Nuns ever. I was blessed, they took me under their wing and I would be over to their house that they stayed in just a block away.
It's a dying breed now. I enjoy several Sister's here who are volunteers. They make me smile and their simple way of life is awesome to embrace. They all take a vow of poverty and now are depending on the Catholic community to help them out, most are very old now and the younger nuns are the ones taking care of them. Yes, there are a lot of Nuns still who are in the work force. I admire all the Sister's. They do shape our lives! Hugs Debbie
I too had some wonderful teachers who were the greatest Nuns ever. I was blessed, they took me under their wing and I would be over to their house that they stayed in just a block away.
It's a dying breed now. I enjoy several Sister's here who are volunteers. They make me smile and their simple way of life is awesome to embrace. They all take a vow of poverty and now are depending on the Catholic community to help them out, most are very old now and the younger nuns are the ones taking care of them. Yes, there are a lot of Nuns still who are in the work force. I admire all the Sister's. They do shape our lives! Hugs Debbie
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