Wednesday, April 12, 2017

BOOKS

Midweek Motif topic this week is Books. 
My  prose is a bit lengthy, but the subject
begged a story to be told.
Submitted to Poets United Midweek Motif
April 12, 2017

My love of books began in a little one-room school in middle Illinois.  My teacher, Earl Zehr, was small in stature, a rather nondescript man, who always wore a crisp shirt and tie with a cardigan sweater.  I don’t remember that he ever raised his voice, yet he maintained respect and order in our schoolroom.   It all seemed very ordinary then, and it was only many years later I came to realize just what an impact he had on my life.  

The role of a country schoolteacher in those days was so much more than reading, writing, arithmetic, geography and history.   Mr. Zehr was janitor, and responsible for building a fire in the big pot-bellied stove on cold winter mornings; and, with some help from students, keeping our schoolroom tidy.  We learned responsibility by being assigned small tasks, and pride in doing them well.   He was music director, and played the piano for our rousing renditions of  “America, the Beautiful”, “God Bless America and other patriotic songs that instilled a pride and love for our country.  On the playground, he was umpire, coach and athletic director.  It was here we learned life lessons that would stand us in good stead for all our lives.   We learned to play fair, to negotiate, to respect others, to look after the little ones, and always to do our best.  On holidays, Mr. Zehr became the drama teacher, preparing and choreographing little programs which we performed for our parents. 

But the greatest gift for me was the time he set aside two or three days a week to read to us from a book of his choice.   In my mind I see him still, taking up the book from the corner of his desk, opening it almost reverently, and, in his measured voice, beginning to read to us of faraway cities and  events so very different from our rural part of the world.   He would read two or three chapters, then close the book until the next session, leaving us in breathless anticipation.   I became thirsty to read every book that came my way.  My studies ended after a year in business college, but my education has lasted my life long, thanks to the thirst for knowledge he instilled in me.  Books are my best friends. Many years later, in what proved to be the last year of his life, I had occasion to see Mr. Zehr again, and to thank him for the gift he had given me.  I am so grateful I had that opportunity.

**************
Armchair vacation
Destination anywhere
No passport required

16 comments:

  1. this is a most beautiful tribute to your teacher Bev, you were lucky to have him in your formative years..he did connect you with the magic world of books....

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh how I love this story. What a wonderful man, and special place, that little one room schoolhouse. You were so lucky, Wendy. I am SO glad you had the chance to thank him at the end of his life, so he could know he had made an impact.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, I meant Beverly. Lost track of where I was!

      Delete
  3. Your story is beautiful and touching, Bev. How lucky, you had an opportunity to thank him in later years for this wonderful experience.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I enjoyed reading this. I wrote about a teacher too, who read to us. She did the same, read a few chapters and left us craving for more. I like your haiku.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This poem makes my heart sing. I used to enjoy the times a teacher read to us as well.....and, as a teacher myself, I really loved reading books to my class. Really there is nothing like instilling the love of books in another person (or people). To learn that books are friends is one of the most important learnings of all!! Loved your reflections.

    ReplyDelete
  6. A great tribute to a teacher..anyone who inculcates the joy of reading in a youngster deserves our greatest gratitude.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Bev, your poem reminded me, of several teachers, I was blessed to have, who would make time, for us, and share various books, like "Charlotte's Web", "Where the Red Ferns Grow", and "Cold River". These moments were the highlight of that week, in school. Thank you, for sharing this part of yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am so pleased you got to thank Mr Zehr. I am sure it meant a lot to him.

    ReplyDelete
  9. A beabeautiful story...a good teacher puts tremendous influence even though they may not be aware of this....nice verse at the end. It is sheer luck and a blessing you got chance to thank him!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I loved reading that story. What wonderful man; how lucky you were.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm glad that no passport is required to travel anywhere in the world through the pages of a book. However, I still like to use my passport to go in person to strange and wonderful places. Both experiences are good.

    ReplyDelete
  12. THIS STORY NEEDED TO BE WRITTEN. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love this! Reminds me of the little library in our town, just two tiny rooms, I spent so many days there, would go on my bike. I think I read every book.

    ReplyDelete
  14. a wonderful read - Mr Zehr would be proud!

    ReplyDelete
  15. My mother went to a one-room school in Wisconsin! I got to see it years later and now it's a remodeled home. There's no schools like that anymore! What a rich experience thanks for sharing it!

    ReplyDelete