Beech Tree News Network

Butler County Schools are in session again, and my grandchildren are back into a routine. I’m sure the students and teachers are hoping for a good year.

Beginning a new school year made me think back to my own education. One of my favorite high school teachers was Marcie Wells. She taught me mathematics for four years: Algebra I, Algebra II, geometry, and trigonometry. She was kind and patient and had a sense of humor (all helpful qualities for teachers). Mrs. Wells had standards for her students: she expected us to behave while we were in her classroom and to try to learn whatever she was teaching. In trigonometry, I never “got it,” only memorizing in preparation for tests. I enjoyed Mrs. Wells’ classes because she provided a comfortable, predictable learning environment with clear expectations. Math was my favorite class; I liked knowing there was a ‘right’ answer.

Most of us remember something about school that we liked. I asked friends and family what they liked about school and why. Their responses are below:
•    I enjoyed chemistry class in high school. I went to school to be a chemical engineer. Strangely enough, I don’t use much of what I’ve learned about chemistry. Maybe I should’ve studied something else so I could use chemistry….
•    Elementary school was my favorite. We had a small, fun school, and everyone was loving and more personal. When we went to middle school, it was a reality check.
•    I liked gym class. I got to get up and move with people I wanted to be around.
•    FFA.
•    High school English. Teachers Virginia Hurst and Grace Martin. They were fun teachers who cared about us.
•    My favorite class was junior English. In Ms. Linda Elmore’s class, I learned to love words and the power of stringing them together to elicit emotion, paint pictures, and tell stories. She gave me my voice.
•    My junior year of high school – English class. I loved all the books and stories we read and the discussions about them were so interesting to me. It’s what made me want to be a high school English teacher!
•    I loved Spanish class with Mr. Gruber. He always had such a sense of humor and did fun things to help us remember the vocabulary. He even cooked us tortillas one day.
•    Third grade with Donna Bingham was my favorite grade, journalism with Paula Clark was my favorite class, and I loved band and being in plays, and had a great time in lots of clubs. I also loved 4-H with Lloyd Saylor.
•    Ms. LeeAnn White was my second and third grade teacher. I loved her! She made learning fun, and I loved school because of her.
•    My favorite school memories are of being in band. Few things can “move” me like music, and I really miss making it.

We are blessed. As Malala Yousafzai explained, “In some parts of the world, students are going to school every day. It's their normal life. But in other part of the world, we are starving for education... it's like a precious gift. It's like a diamond.” As the yellow school buses pass by, please pray that our students and teachers have a safe and enjoyable school year.