Pater Familias … because I'm your FATHER!

Goodbye To First Grade, Deep Gratitude To Mrs. Taylor

June 24, 2010

Glad it's finally summer vacation?

Teacher Performed For Her Pupils, Not Us

Disappointed and gotta admit a mite annoyed yesterday, finding out that I was not invited to attend the special end-of-year cowgirl/cowboy party for Mrs. Taylor's first grade class. A big deal for Girl Child because she shares Mrs. T's fetish for things Western and got to wear her genuine Texas (bought at DFW during plane change) cowgirl hat. 

Discovered that I wasn't going from a secretary in the school's front office, whom I called to find out when the party was. She called to the classroom and came back markedly less cheerful, saying the time was noon, but, "it's just for the kids." Poor woman seemed uncomfortable telling me. But I laughed and faked great relief that I didn't have to come into school. 

Truth, disappointment  went deeper than I like to admit, even here in my own blog. I mean, dammit, the two room moms got to go, and all year long I loved looking in on GC and her Room 10 cohort, sending in stuff for snack time, the odd contribution of supplies, whatever. And, over the years, I have loved watching the girl and friends passing through portals on the way to (ouch) growing up. This one, officially finishing First Grade, seemed especially momentous and heavy with emotion. Probably that way for the kid, too. And I really hated to miss it. 

But then I didn't hate it, feeling a gush of fresh appreciation for Mrs. T. And I looked toward Big Brick Elementary School, smiled, and sent a silent message. 

Good for you, Lady. Good for you making it of, for, by and about your -- our -- children. 

That's how it's been all year with our Mrs. T, who seemed to keep us parents at arm's length more than any of GC's previous teachers. Without being the least bit unfriendly or unresponsive about for-real teacher business, she nevertheless maintained a certain reserve and did not encourage, how should we say, familiarity. For me, who always makes a big effort to get next to teachers, the rather smooth, cool surface Mrs. T presents was something new.

But it wasn't so bad, either. One can get weary of flamboyant aren't-you-lucky-to-have-me divas starring in their own shows. You know the type, knocking themselves out to make moms and dads fans. Well, Mrs. T made no such effort. Instead, she made a fan out of my kid. Right from Day One, Girl Child raved about her teacher, idolized her, made special home projects and wrote stories to show her and all year long talked about how much she loved school.

And, very early on, I saw why. Forget the occasion, but I went into the classroom and was flat amazed by how much Mrs. T there was. Nothing cool or arms-length in class, man. She was huge and 100 percent there, keeping 25 6- and 7-year-olds on track and in focus, and they loved it, even the ones needing to be told to get with the program. 

Lady's main stage was Room 10. That's where she performed. Show time was 9 AM to 3 PM, when we parents weren't watching. Show time was school time. And then, at the end of the year, she had a wrap party that was cast only. 

Good for her. 

And good for us. 

And thank you, Mrs. Taylor. 

So, parent, how's summer workin' for you, so far? Any lasting impressions of your kid's teacher? 

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