Teachers

crossposted at firedoglake saturday 19 january 2008

Good morning pups!

In struggling to make sense of the mess created by this administration, I'm grateful for teachers and guides here at the lake who illuminate the difficult terrain around us.

Whether it's scarecrow on politics, Ian on economics, loosehead or Christy writing about the law, my life is enriched by their patient explanations.

I thought it would be fun to hear from you guys about your teachers and mentors, past or present, since they shape who we are and how we think about life. 

One teacher changed the course of my life by intervening when I was being taunted by other kids for my interest in books.

Elsie Ellison, the wife of Tiger Ellison -- who was our high school coach before he went up to OSU to teach his Run & Shoot strategy -- admonished them saying they couldn't hold a candle to me unless they became eager to learn too.

I couldn't have been more astonished, or uplifted, if she had ridden into the room on horseback with a sword of fire. She proclaimed that Learning was noble, one of the highest goals.

When people grumble about not being able to do anything to resolve our political and economic problems, I like to say "Everyone can do something: lead, follow, support, teach, learn." None of these need cost any money, all are valuable.

My list [everyone must have a list now that Hugh is famous] evolved from a poster showing a flock of geese with the caption: Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way. Somehow the concept of Support sounded more productive, not to mention kinder, as the third category.

Baptized in an Orchestra Pit

Sunday morning service in the church where our family has baptisms, weddings, funerals. Well, except that the new building was under construction when I was born, so services were at the nearby junior high school. I was actually baptized in the orchestra pit, which is a pretty good beginning for a future musician.

Walked the floor where my father's casket was placed for his funeral. Wandered the halls where Sunday School teachers taught me right from wrong and explained that there were children dying from lack of food and medicine -- which I vowed at age 10 to do something about. Touched the pipe organ that children were forbidden to touch. Walked up to the altar where my soon to be ex husband and I exchanged wedding vows some 30 years ago.

So many emotions from grief to joy, but the overarching sensation was one of gratitude:

For the people who gave sacrificially to build this beautiful place where so much has happened in my life.

For the minister who taught us to be in awe of the astonishing universe God created.

For the teachers who patiently explained lessons of charity and love.

For the kindergarten choir director who had us sing, unbelievably, In Excelsis Deo [Angels We Have Heard On High]. I did years later have occasion to ask him what possessed him to teach such difficult music to 5 year olds. He said he simply didn't explain that it was difficult, and we did it. There's a lesson in there somewhere.


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Photo by Arkansas Wanderer