Appreciates article on teachers
I feel like such a sap, lump in my throat and tears running down my face. I just finished reading page C10 of Sunday's paper, the article "Teachers aver some gifts from students are simply priceless," and want to thank you for printing it.
School was out Friday afternoon, and I ought to be wrapping presents for my family and getting Christmas cards and packages ready to mail. But, first, I have to respond to this article.
I'm in my 28th year working as a public school speech-language pathologist. Things have changed significantly in the schools in the last 28 years but have also remained very much the same. I've always said if it weren't for the children, it wouldn't be worth it ... and that is what it's all about.
I started my career in Illinois in the fall of 1975 and moved to Montana in 1977. In 1988, I came to Juneau, and I'm still "going to school." Rarely have I thought of my job as "work" and much of that has to do with the children who have blessed my life.
I'm thinking of the little kindergartner in Illinois who told me what a bed is for during a testing session. And the Montana preschooler whose speech was unintelligible and told me he was going "ice pissing with his dad in the f---" when we were done that day. It was all I could do to keep from laughing when I reiterated to him that it sure would be fun to go "ice fishing with Dad in the truck." Then, there was the little boy who told me about going to "Jack's Penter Cet" to look at the animals. His parents were taking him to "Jack's Pet Center." And there are so many more memories, including the woman at church yesterday. We celebrated her special son and the things he is beginning to do, and I don't know the boy and don't know the mother's name, either.
The article centered on gifts from the children. I, too, have my share, and they all hold many wonderful memories that I recall during the holidays when I get them out or at other times when I see and use them. They are very dear to me, but the article brought to the forefront the things I remember so clearly about the children and their families.
At the height of this holiday season, I want to thank all the parents who have allowed me to work with their children over the last 14 1/2 years here in Juneau. I thank all those in Montana and Illinois, too, but they won't see this letter. Your children are very precious, and we don't get to tell you that often enough. I wish you all a very blessed Christmas season and a Happy New Year. And even though I need this break from school very badly, I can't wait to get back to your children in the new year.
Dixie Alms
speech-language pathologist
Juneau