Opinion : Elementary School in Snippets

Dear Mrs. Hodgson,

I have to admit my memory of what I learned in elementary school is pretty vague. I mean, apparently I learned to do the basics, read, write, math etc...but my memories of elementary school are just snapshots of those years.

There was one bright spot in those years and it was your class. You were the teacher who introduced me to science. I remember this was the first time I met the periodic table and understood that there were these things that were called "elements," with symbols...and that we needed to memorize some of them.

But the best part of that class was seeing you. In 5th grade, I mean I remember taking band and thinking that reading notes was boring. Art was fun with Mrs. Kettler, now that was hands down my favorite class. Then there was Mr. Huelman in PE who seemed to be 10 feet tall to this 5th grader. I remember Mrs. Jefferies, whom I thought was REALLY old then, and when I met her as an adult and she didn't seem to have aged at all in..

I remember a class that might've been some sort of current events class, with a faceless teacher. In that class I learned who our politically minded classmate was, because he knew ALL the answers about politics...and he later ran for a state office.

But hands down, my favorite teacher was you. At the time, Mrs. Hodgson you were pregnant and in those days it was a topic that wasn't as openly discussed like it is now. I think it was okay to notice, and if I'm not mistaken it seemed that by the end of the year, sadly for us, you may have disappeared and we had a substitute, but my memories aren't really THAT clear on the timing. I just knew that I loved to go to science class just to see you. You were the first lady that made me think, "Huh, she's obviously very pregnant, and she's very happy, and she is just glowing!"

You always had a smile, and you made me WANT to be in your class. I honestly don't remember anything more than just wanting to be there. Now that was a big accomplishment.

You obviously loved your job, and as a result, I loved being in the room with you. The feelings are what I remember from your class. The warmth, the smile, and for a little girl, just knowing that you were going to have a baby was a really cool thing. I think this was one class that I couldn't wait to be in, just because it included you. (Now I think, "Wow, your baby is probably nearing 50, and I'm getting old!")

After starting this website, you made a donation and seeing your beautiful handwriting on the check, took me back to all of these memories. Of course, in my mind, you've always been heavily pregnant, because that was the last that I saw you - acfifty year pregnancy? Yikes!

Of all the classes, in my 5th grade life, your class was the class that I wanted to be in . It was my bright spot in the fifth grade.

Unfortunately, life went on, and we moved a couple of years later so I never saw you again. But in 13 years of schooling, the takeaway is probably this. You did teaching right. You were the teacher that I don't remember ever being on the wrong side of. You always brought a smile to class and shared it with us. Nope, I couldn't tell you much of what you taught us, but I remember your kindness, gentleness and warmth. I remember how you made us feel like you actually wanted us in class.

Thanks for being the one that took the intimidation out of the word, "science." But most of all, thanks for your ability to just make me smile at the thought of you.

Sincerely one of your 5th Graders,

Valerie