"Love First, Teach Second"

 

“Love First, Teach Second”

Noel Laflin

6-5-22

Last night was the perfect evening for a garden party – and the party was a perfect tribute for a beloved high school teacher’s retirement.

More than a hundred folks showed up, young and old alike.  Many had been her students throughout her thirty-four year career of teaching English and Literature. Some dated back to her first classroom, while others only graduated days ago.  And then there were all of those who spanned the years in between.

Fellow teachers, administrators, neighbors, friends, and family also came to pay their respects and to wish her well in retirement, where she will now have the time to read the books not necessarily on a district’s curriculum, but ones that she has been putting off getting to for way too long.    

There were some fine speeches.  One of my favorites was delivered by her son, who described what it was like to be a student in his own mother’s English classroom during his last semester in high school. Ben led off by quoting Dickens, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times …” And with those opening words, there was tremendous laughter. It was the perfect introduction to an impassioned, heartfelt tribute to the woman as teacher, mentor and mother. As I was standing by the boy’s father, I asked Michael if he knew what his son had prepared to say. He did not. But he beamed with joy.

A common theme touched upon by every speaker was Marjie’s mantra throughout her career, “Love first, teach second.” 

The reciprocated love showered upon her last evening was proof that this is not necessarily a bad way of going about one’s job – but perhaps the best.