Share a memory of your favorite teacher
FINDING HER VOICE
I would guess few, if any, of my teachers remember me. Painfully shy, I often wished I could be invisible in the classroom. I would only engage if forced. I studied hard and got good grades, but school stressed me out. Then I met Mrs. Wilson.
She was young, with a genuine smile and a contagious laugh. You could tell she felt teaching was the best job ever. She had a knack for making learning fun and interesting.
She never played favorites. There were no teacher’s pets in her classroom. Each child was treated the same, with compassion and understanding, and given loads of encouragement. Looking back, it appears she knew every child is different and must learn in his or her own way. Her classroom was a soft place for “her” children to land. Her kindness worked wonders for a shy little girl. I walked a little taller and found my voice. She gave me the confidence I so badly needed.
This was a long time ago. I sincerely wish I had gone back and told her what a great teacher she was. That regret has taught me to say “thank you” more often and to let people know they are appreciated. A lesson learned. Thank you, Mrs. Wilson.
Judy Bennett
Northern Plains Electric Cooperative
SHOWING RESPECT
One of my memories of a favorite teacher was when I was a seventh-grader at a farm school. She was my cousin’s wife. All of us kids at the school knew her, so we all called her by her first name.
One day, Mercer County School Superintendent John Boyko paid us a visit at the school. We kids had an extended recess. By the time Mr. Boyko left at the end of the day, our teacher was no longer Marlene, but Mrs. Schriefer. It took a while to get used to it, but it was showing her respect. She was special to all of us at the farm school and she is still a special person in my life.
Sarah Richau
Roughrider Electric Cooperative
LASTING IMPRESSION
As a first-grader in 1947, I attended a one-room school a mile from our farm. Our teacher was raised about 5 miles from there, but stayed at a farm home about a mile cross-country from school. She walked many times across a pasture and field to get to the school faster. Some days, it was wintry.
I was impressed by her handwriting and hoped some day I could write with the same style. I still have my report card from first grade. My former teacher is 97 years old, and she still writes me letters and sends cards. Her handwriting is still as attractive as it was then. She lives in her own house in the state of Washington and has lived in Bismarck, California and Hawaii.
Our county superintendent, who came for regular visits, was a big man in my eyes, so I respected him, especially when he asked me to read for him. My teacher nodded her head in approval, so I read from a book. According to her, he was impressed. I stalled on one word, but I was able to sound it out and kept reading to finish the page.
I completed elementary school in seven years instead of eight, all in a one-room schoolhouse, which I credit to my first-grade teacher, Kay.
She is still as dear to me as she was 76 years ago.
Ann Luithle
Roughrider Electric Cooperative
PASSING GRADES
My favorite teacher was my eighth-grade teacher, Helen Burghart, in rural Cherry Butte School north of Regent, a consolidated school with two teachers. The school was 4 miles from me and she lived about 10 miles from the school. That year, we had several major blizzards that blocked all of our roads for at least six weeks. None of us could get to school during that time, yet we all passed our grades.
That May, I was to give a speech as retiring president of the Young Citizens League and she helped me prepare it. However, when the time came to give the speech, the whole school was quarantined with scarlet fever, me included, so I never got to give it.
She finally earned her degree in education by attending summer school in Dickinson, while still teaching and raising her family. Later, we both taught in Regent Public School, where our daughters were classmates.
Marlene Kouba
Slope Electric Cooperative
MAKING A TASTY MEMORY
When I was in second grade, my dear teacher, Mrs. D., was always so kind. She knew we were still little and she would read us a story after lunch, not caring if we fell asleep for those 10 minutes, because she knew we would be ready to learn when we awoke!
One day, Mrs. D. brought a truly fun “science project.” She brought fresh cream from that morning’s milking at her dairy farm. It was in a covered glass quart jar, and she asked us to shake the jar until we got tired (which wasn’t too long for little second-graders), then pass it to the person sitting behind us in the row.
After all the class had taken turns shaking the jar, it turned to fresh butter, like no other! Not many kids would want to just eat butter, so Mrs. D. had also gotten up early to make homemade banana bread for the entire class. Each of us got a piece slathered with the butter we had just made all by ourselves. I can still remember that day as if it was yesterday.
But what also remains in my mind is how Mrs. D. always treated us so kindly, how she cared for us as if we were her own children and how learning was an exciting journey every day.
Connie Nikiforoff
Capital Electric Cooperative
ARRIVING TO TEACH
My favorite memory is when Cindy Kapperich came to Strasburg and taught. She taught independent living and child development from Ellendale.
Allen Eberle
KEM Electric Cooperative
PUTTING STOCK IN STUDENTS
My favorite teacher would have to be Jerome Knopik, who taught me as a junior at Golva High School in the 1970s. He was strict and spoke with a deep voice that sometimes scared us, but the students had a lot of respect for him. Some days in class, it was a fun day. The next day, it was buckle down and double up for the day of fun.
In bookkeeping class, he wanted to introduce students to the stock market, so he had all of us buy a stock on paper and watch it. That created an interest I have carried to this day, 52 years later. I have watched the stock market every day since and love trading when I can. It has taught me knowledge about expanding companies and the latest trends.
I must give credit to Mr. Knopik for teaching me this skill, which I’ve enjoyed for the past 52 years.
Brenda Maus
Goldenwest Electric Cooperative
THANKING HIS FAVORITE
I’ve had many great teachers during my seven years of school. But, one was really great and made learning fun! When I was in third grade, my teacher was Mrs. Knutson, and she is my favorite teacher. She teaches in Wilton.
One of my favorite memories of her is when she hosted a carnival for my class. The classroom was decorated with red and yellow streamers and other carnival decorations. There were different activities you could do around the classroom. There was a snack bar, games, face painting and even a photo booth.
Mrs. Knutson also took us to a trampoline park because we did so well and met our goals on the end-of-the-year standardized tests. It was fun jumping on the trampolines with my classmates, and Mrs. Knutson even jumped!
I learned how to write stories in her classroom, and we did cool art projects, too. When I was doing well in third grade math, she allowed me to move up to fourth grade math to be challenged more. She not only challenged me, but she made learning interesting and fun, did fun activities with the students and was very kind. She taught me a lot and I will never forget her! Thank you, Mrs. Knutson!
Maxwell Vetter, age 11
McLean Electric Cooperative
UPCOMING READER REPLY QUESTION:
March: As we observe International Women’s Day in March, what woman do you admire most and why?
Deadline for submission: Feb. 9
APRIL: What step have you taken to improve your health that you would recommend to others?
Deadline for submission: March 11
We want to hear FROM you: Submissions should be no more than 250 words, typewritten or in legible handwriting. Include your name, complete address, daytime phone number and the name of the rural electric cooperative to which you belong. Note: Magazine staff reserves the right to make editing changes and cuts. We pay $25 for each letter we print. Email to ndliving@ndarec.com or mail to READER REPLY, North Dakota Living, P.O. Box 727, Mandan, ND 58554-0727.
