by Edward Malone

Created on: March 31, 2008

I can remember all of my teachers from the first grade to the twelfth grade. My mother introduced me to Mrs Anabel Reagan, when she enrolled me in the first grade at Brantley Elementary in Selma, Alabama in 1957. Mrs Reagan was a quiet teacher with a caring personality. I got my excellent reading skills from her. Mrs Sadie Bur well was my second grade teacher. She had a very demanding presence in her classroom. I learned to play the piano by watching her play. My third grade teacher was Mrs Elsie Stallworth. Mrs Stallworth insured that I got the gist of multiplication right, bless her heart. When I was promoted to the fourth grade, I inherited Mrs Willie Gardner, a no nonsense woman who loved to disciplined us with a yardstick (ouch!). I thought Mrs Gardner was mean, but Mrs Willie King, my fifth grade teacher was bad with the switch. Back in those early 1960s, in black schools, students toed the line because you didn't want to get secondary "whippings" from your parents. During my sixth grade tenure, Mrs Eloise J. Walton was my teacher. I will always remember her for teaching me how to tell time. I know some of you reading this are saying to yourself hmm, my he was slow. Well, being a farm boy, watches and clocks were a luxury back then. I always knew what time to do various chores by looking at the sun's location. When Mrs Walton taught me the clock watching way, I was fascinated so much that I learned to tell military time also, since her husband was in the Air Force. In the seventh grade, Mr Willie Thomas was my teacher. He taught me how to debate and to respect history. Mrs Geraldine Chestnut, was my eight grade teacher who also taught English and literature. Mr. James Gulley was my ninth grade teacher and also my basketball coach. When I was promoted to the tenth, Mr James Stevens inspired me to become a traveller. Mrs Mary Andrews was my eleven grade instructor and Mrs Algene K. Roscoe gave me good instruction during my senior year in high school. All of my teachers instilled the value of education in us in order that we could excell in life. Every country I read about in my history classes, I had the opportunity to visit during my Air Force career. It was like a dream come true. I will always remember the teachers I had and their contributions to my life and careers.

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