Feature Story Interview

(Questions on "Feature Story Brainstorm" Blog Entry)

1. As soon as she graduated from college. Husband was in military, so she was hired on the base (Fort Benning, Georgia) to teach once they were married in the summer. 1964

2. The college of Our Lady of the Elms

3. 3rd grade, because there was an opening for that grade. She had wanted to teach 3rd grade either way because they're eager to learn at that age.

4. Stopped teaching when her husband was discharged, after one year. Had first child and didn't teach again until 1980. Taught preschool in California for 3 years, then she moved to NY. Stopped teaching for a while, then began teaching Montessori for 9 nine years. She retired when her husband retired. Didn't teach right away after moving bc they were getting settled and were often busy.

5. Didn't prefer one grade over another since they were all kinda young. After retirement she began to do floral arrangements for weddings.

6. All subjects in 3rd and preschool, but with Montessori she specifically taught method

7. Her mom was a teacher, she had always wanted to be a teacher since she was young and really enjoyed being around little kids "it was nice, it was gratifying"

8. In the military, she met kids with all sorts of backgrounds, very interesting. One boy who was very slow in class's father's job in the military was digging soldiers graves. Since his father wasn't "high up" in the military hierarchy, it was like he wasn't pushed as hard as kids who had parents who were like captains and generals who maybe expected more from their children.

9. She remembers the kids came into class and she remembers a little black boy in her class. (she grew up in a small town and wasn't really exposed to racial diversity growing up). When she had a conference with his parents, they told her that they were glad that she had treated him with respect, because he had a rough start and experiences with school so she was happy that he had a good year.

10. Didn't substitute bc she'd have to go back to school and get another degree in NY bc the teaching qualifications were different in that state

11. She never enforced corporal punishment. She would never lay a hand on a student. She believes kids need to learn how to behave, but abuse is not the way to do it.

12. Since the kids were little, they didn't often misbehave. Kids back then respected authority much more than today's kids, and because of this, student's didn't often cause trouble. Parents were also very helpful and involved. A verbal scolding was enough.

13. Interior design, meteorologist were other careers she would've liked to pursue. Mother Nature fascinated her

14. She made memorable friends because of her job, one woman she still keeps in touch with today. None from the military/California though, because of distance.

15. Not really difficult in Georgia, started substituting in CA then it turned into a more permanent position. In NY, there was an ad in the newspaper, so she applied and got it. So overall there wasn't too much difficulty.

16. She really enjoyed teaching Montessori because it was a different method than public schools, and the patterning method taught there taught the kids how to study and gave them confidence and do things at their own speed. Great method of learning. Montessori kids became more independent with this program.
17. "I just really enjoyed teaching."

aunt's interview:
She didn’t go back to teaching until she was in 8/9th grade. She appreciated how hard she would prepare for school, then go to work and then come home and do everything around the house and help her. Nothing negatively changed around the house when she went back to work. She always had time to help her and the house ran just as smoothly . She realized she wanted to be just like her a mom, a teacher. She was more appreciative of all she was doing. She thinks they became closer and talked more. She thinks her mom really enjoyed working which translated into her being more happy and fulfilled as a person. She believes her mom’s teaching positively affected their relationship.