In Praise of Teachers

In 1972 I returned to Miami Beach High School to speak to the drama class. Then I asked the Drama teacher, when one of my English teachers are still there. Irene Roberts, he tells me, is in the Class only in the hallway. I was not in a special Miss Roberts' class - just another Jock was hair straightenersokay to work. I do not know remember a special little wisdom in it. Yet I can not forget their respect for the language, for Ideas and for their students. I know now, many years later that the quintessential selfless Teacher. I want to say something to her, I say, but I do not want to drag them from one class. Nonsense, he says, they will be happy to see you. The drama teacher is Miss GHDRoberts in the hallway, where this 32-year-old man, whom they last looked at 18th "I'm Mark Medoff," I tell her. "They were my 12th grade English teacher in 1958." They Cocks his head at me as if this angle could conjure in my memory. And then, when armed with a Message I want to perfect in a few words, I can not believe it until something unforgettable as these: "I want you to know," I say, "They were important to me." And there in the hallway, this light and lovely woman, is now nearing retirement age, the teacher who does not remember me, begins to cry, and she encircledchi hair straighteners me in her arms. Remembering this moment, I begin to feel that everything I ever know everything that I ever goes to my school for my children, is an integral part of the ongoing legacy of our common miracle and the eternal hope that we may have to make ourselves better. Irene Roberts just keeps me in his arms and through her tears whispered against my cheek, "Thank you, Them. "And then, with the briefest of looks into my face forget, they disappear back into their Classroom, back to what she has done thousands of days through all the years of my absence. On reflection, perhaps were, after all, just the right words to say Irene Roberts. Maybe they are the words I would like for all those teachers I know about my life as part of the me, the words spoken, I would like to again one day by some students: "I want you to know hey were important to me. "