On Becoming a Teacher Part 5
"Hands-On" approach
This story marks the fifth entry of a
series I’m calling:
“On Becoming a Teacher”
In Long Beach, CA while attending Minnie Gant Elementary School in 1968, I was enrolled in Mrs. Flynn’s 2nd Grade class. I considered her a fair teacher and one that I found to be quite interesting. She wore her jet black hair in bangs and liked to jump rope with us during recess. She told jokes and served ice cream on certain Fridays with parents from the PTA. She helped me understand how to write using paragraphs. She was the first teacher I had that DIDN’T have my older brother. (I was grateful for this)
One day, Mrs. Flynn asked us to write - what I later discovered was a fairly common essay question - “What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?” After completing the essay, I would place my hand in a plate of plaster of paris to imprint this moment in time. Later we painted the negative space red.
I wrote that I would like to be a teacher when I grow up.
To be honest, I didn’t really have knowledge of many occupations at the time. I mean, my father was an Armed Services YMCA Program Director, so I knew this. I spent my first ten Christmas Eves at the YMCA. (think: Village People YMCA and not Day Camp YMCA) I knew this building and most of the employees here. I really loved hanging out there as a child.
You see, my dad threw himself into his career to organize USO-type weekly shows which very much resembled a cross between a Rowan & Martin Laugh-In series with a boisterous Carol Burnett variety show. He was Bob Hope entertainment with a Frank Sinatra look (the early years). Between 1953-1973, Dad (and the rest of us) practically lived at the YMCA.The servicemen Dad served were on active duty in the Korea and Vietnam wars and his job was to provide an opportunity for respite while away from home.
Acrobatics (Yoga Partner Style) were even conducted at the YMCA.
The Long Beach Pike can be seen from the YMCA. In the days before the Queen Mary moved in, the Pike was an amusement zone in Long Beach, California. The Cyclone Racer (1930–1968), a large wooden dual-track roller coaster, was built out on pilings over the water.
The cyclone was put to rest the year Mrs. Flynn asked me to write my essay.
My mom didn’t work but volunteered everywhere. Teaching was really the only profession I had an up-close-and-personal exposure to.
Little known fact about me:
I can still NAME every teacher I’ve had from
Preschool - 12th grade.
Just to name a few who stand out in my memory:
Mrs Robinson - Preschool. She picked us up in a station wagon where we got to ride in the back compartment without seatbelts. When she drove down a steep hill, we received that Cyclone roller-coaster effect and flew up to the ceiling of the vehicle while getting tickled in our belly!
Mrs. Brooks - First Grade. She was very nice and wore her hair way up high.
Mrs. Flynn - Second Grade. Fair and wore hair in bangs.
Mrs. Dellinger - Third Grade. She played kickball in heels with us! She let us build a two story fort inside our classroom during a history unit.
Mrs. Loveday - Fifth Grade. She became pregnant during our school year. We were told then that teachers who became pregnant were not allowed to work.
So, YMCA Program Director and Teacher were the two main vocations I knew with any kind of in-depth knowledge. Ironically, throughout my life, I’ve worked a significant number of years in both occupations. I loved them both. It was essential for me to experience JOY while working, and both professions offered these essentials.
But … as you can see, there are TWO hands hung above our shelf.
Well, this is an interesting story.
In Farmington Hills, MI while attending Lanigan Elementary School in 1972, Michael was enrolled in Mr Johnson’s 2nd Grade class. One day, Mr Johnson asked Michael’s class to write the SAME essay question - “What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?” and then after, place his hand in a plate of plaster of paris to imprint this similar moment in time. Following with (can you believe it!) an outline of his hand in red paint!
Fast forward to 1991, Michael and I met, fell in love and moved in together. We came across our hands a few years following when childhood mementos were confiscated from each of our parent’s houses.
Each of our mementos are surviving over 50 years in fairly good condition; notwithstanding a few cracks here and there- nothing that paste couldn’t fix. Together, these hands traveled over 3,500 miles collaboratively. Although many childhood relics have survived into our adulthood and through our own children’s childhood (legos, erector sets, match box cars … ) these two hands are our most precious pieces of memorabilia.
As for Michael’s answer to HIS essay question? Yep, you guessed it: Firefighter.
Although we each resisted signing contracts in our respective fields of employment until we were each in our 30’s (we wanted to make sure we had each thoroughly explored optional careers before we committed), in the end, our 2nd grade essays indeed came true.
When I look up “What makes a GREAT 2nd Grade Teacher?” The answer that is most often stated is: “make sense of the world around them and most importantly, have fun while learning.”
Thank you Mrs. Flynn
Thank you Mr Johnson.
