i learned today that one of my favourite teachers in high school has died. i sincerely think she was only seven years older than myself.
Marilyn was fresh out of college when she walked into our classroom to teach literature but she displayed some degree of maturity that you could only find in the older, more conservative teachers. she commanded respect by her demeanor alone. she was friendly outside of the classroom, but very strict inside. several years ago when we were corresponding via e-mail, i reminded her about her excellent aim at throwing the chalk stick at the students, mostly the boys, to get their attention, and she'd do it without even looking. those of us who actually wanted to learn, we loved her. she was a no-nonsense teacher who wanted results from her students. she had me from Beowulf to Guy de Maupassant's "A Piece of String" to Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales", from Shakespeare's sonnets to Ben Jonson's "Song to Celia" to Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar". i still remember the week she had us recite Walt Whitman's "Oh, Captain! My Captain!" and we had to recite it with full emotion.
i especially loved her handwriting style, which i emulated and made my own all these years (well, until the carpal tunnel syndrome took over). it was her who inspired me to learn French and German languages in college. i forget now if she actually studied or spoke either of those languages, but the very moment she pronounced Guy de Maupassant's name in class, i knew i had to learn French.
sometime in the early 80's, we met at the local YMCA where both our little boys were training to swim. the warmth of her character, as a friend really seeped through. sadly, a few months after that, i left for Europe and stayed for several months. when i came back, life happened and we lost touch.
in 2008 when i met Marilyn during our high school reunion, i had told her that i still remember the Shakespearean sonnets and the other classic poems that she taught us to interpret. i thanked her for having motivated me to do well, and i thought i saw a glint of pride in her eyes. she told me later that it takes only one student, of the many she had taught, to make a teacher feel that her efforts were not wasted.
the other night whilst doing my 365, a small paperback book fell from the shelf of one of my bookcases. it had been sitting there for so long and suddenly for some unbeknownst reason, it just fell. when i turned around, i saw that it was the book of "Immortal Poems". it fell open, right in the middle, facing down. i picked it up to see what poem was on the page and to my surprise the poem was one by alfed lord tennyson - "Crossing the Bar". i suddenly thought of Marilyn and smiled as i remembered that long ago day back in our classroom as she explained to us the meaning of the poem.
i didn't realize until this morning that it was a premonition, as, when i logged on to facebook, which i very seldom do these days, someone had posted that Marilyn had lost her battle with cancer and had passed away.
we had been having queen's weather the last few days and today was the same thing. but it's funny and ironic that i couldn't enjoy it. i had been thinking of Marilyn, one of those teachers who actually cared.
Twilight and evening bell,
and after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
when I embark.
For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place
the flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
when I have crost the bar.
- Alfred, Lord Tennyson
You have stirred something in me. I'm so sorry she lost her battle. As a teacher myself I always wanted to make a difference for the pupils I taught and although I remember many of them from all the classes I've taught I never thought I'd had more than a fleeting impact on them. Then one evening something happened to alert me to the fact that they thought of me too. I was at a wedding sitting chatting with friends at a table around the edge of the dance floor. A young woman I'd taught ran up to me with her camera. She was crying. Apparently the word had gone out to some of my pupils that I'd died following an accident in the classroom where my arm went through the window and I severed the radial artery.! To prove to others that I was very much alive she kept taking my photo. I'm on Facebook and since then many of ex pupils have become friends.
I honestly cannot think of one of my teachers that inspired me go out and do something. What I remember most is them telling me not to do something or what I wanted to do wasn't possible. To this day I will do my damndest to prove that I can do anything I set my mind to.
Lovely to hear of a special teacher, she is gone but not forgotten. My special teacher was in Junior school. She convinced me (and everyone else) that being deaf was no barrier to life and learning. She could never have been a friend but she was absolutely the best teacher any child could have been taught by. My high school days strike terror in my heart.
No teacher could ask for a better tribute than this. Accolades from a former student are the very foundations and raison d'être of a true teacher. Well done vikki!
:-( and the book fell, and made you think.. I'd say it was meant for you to know. I am so sorry and I had a teacher that was an inspiration to me.. always a good thing..
I thought I'd glance through this in passing, but your tribute and depth of feeling for this teacher and friend was very moving. I can think of no higher honor as "she crosses the bar".
October 11th, 2014
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