They came bouncing into our classrooms with buckets of enthusiasm, ready to take on the world of Shuksan Jr. High. Little did we realize, struggling and slugging through the miasma of 7th. Grade, what a difference they would make.
Our core teacher, bless his heart, epitomized burnout. He was fed up with his job and with us. It showed. Every single day he tottered on the edge of frustration. One day when he lost it completely and “yelled” at us for our incessant chatter, he burst into tears. It shocked us into an awkward silence. I’m not sure how he recovered, but nothing changed until Miss Ayers came on the scene. Her calm and cheerful presence quieted our teacher and the classroom took on a tone of peace and optimism. We all breathed easier!
Her pal, Miss Brezee, had much the same effect on our French class, although thankfully I do not remember the French teacher as being given to crying jags. Miss Brezee superimposed her wacky sense of humor on the French language, with hysterical results. Giggles abounded, and we learned.
These dear young women courageously gathered a bunch of us girls, giggles and all, and treated us to a comedy play at the local teachers’ college, Western Washington State. What a job that must have been, herding a gaggle of 12 year old girls all the way across town onto campus. But they did it. The theater seats were the kind that automatically raise up behind you as you stand up, and of course one of my friends managed to forget that and dropped out of sight to the floor. More giggles. Somehow we calmed and managed to thoroughly enjoy the play, “ Charlie’s Aunt”.
I think we all realized that night that our lives were not going to end in 7th. Grade. There was hope – someone was treating us like young ladies.
Teachers make a difference, some more than others. These two young women live on for me brightly in a year crammed with adolescent insecurity and angst. Thank you, ladies!
