December 20, 2023 - I come from a very athletic family. I was the odd duck, sort of roly-poly and not good at sports. But I did and do love baseball. I especially love the Chicago Cubs. I always told my congregation that I would know I was in Heaven when the Cubs won the World Series and I could sing with a strong melodic voice! Well, the Cubs did win the Series in 2016, but I am still waiting on my singing talent.
I had a very hard time learning how to read, and spelling was a disaster. I often got letters in the wrong order or wrote the letter backwards. It wasn’t until the sixth grade that I was diagnosed with dyslexia. To my horror, my parents agreed that I should attend summer school and get remedial help in dealing with my condition. At least, I hope my experience made me more understanding in dealing with any students with that same problem.
Now, on to little league tryouts. I was six and attending my first little league practice, when my reading problems became a sports problem and an embarrassment. My coach told me to head out to left field. Trying not to panic, I made a detour to where the moms were all sitting. This was before the advent of aluminum chairs, so they were on blankets and quilts—and smoking. I hollered out to my mom, “Which is left field?” The moms broke out laughing, but my mom directed me to the proper place. I still have a problem distinguishing between right and left field.
I was so lucky in many ways. I came from a family that valued education. My parents believed that the American dream could best come to life through learning. My parents read to me, and around the dinner table, our folks spoke to us not as little kids but as someone they enjoyed talking to. My wife is an avid reader, and I eventually got the knack of reading: Today reading is one of my favorite things to do.
My family moved to Houston when I was in the sixth grade. New city, new house, and new school. I didn’t like my new school. I didn’t care for my teacher, Mrs. T. I did find a new best friend, Bobby. That didn’t stop us from fighting one day after school on the way home. The next morning Bobby and I were sent to the principal’s office. Apparently, until you go home, you are still the responsibility of the school. I got suspended for one day and a parent had to go downtown with me to speak to some sort of assistant superintendent.
My dad was already downtown at work but met my mom and me at the school district office. My dad was angry with me, but he was also angry at the school. Turns out that Bobby wasn’t suspended. See, the school officials knew Bobby’s family and knew they were “good people.” They didn’t know us. Unfair, but it didn’t let my off the hook with my parents. Bobby and I remained best friends, but that incident was almost the worst thing that happened to me that year.
The worst thing was my terrible teacher, Mrs. T, recommended me for summer school. What! How could she! And my own parents went along with her wicked ways. Looking back, my teacher wasn’t so terrible, and the evil summer school program was for dyslexic kids like me. I improved my reading a little and learned a lifetime’s worth of ways to cope with my “mental problem.”
While I was writing this article, Sue and I got takeout from a Chinese restaurant. My fortune in the fortune cookie said, “A house without books is like a room without windows.” That is so true. My sixth-grade self might not have agreed, but since then I’ve learned to appreciate books and learning lots more than I did then.
My original intent in college was a law degree; however, my parents wanted me to get a teaching certificate just in case I needed something to “fall back on.” When I did my student teaching—in a Lufkin school of only seventh graders—I fell in love with teaching.
My whole career teaching was spent in Joaquin—first in high school, then junior high followed by fifth grade, high school principal and elementary principal. When I returned to the classroom, it was in fourth grade. I was astounded to see elementary kids carrying around enormous books…..and reading them eagerly. I found out this was a new series about a young wizard named Harry Potter. All these years later, I’ve read every one of those huge books and seen all the movies (more than once). My sixth-grade self would be amazed!
I look back now and so appreciated all those who didn’t give up on me when I was younger starting with my parents but including other family, teachers, coaches, Sunday school teachers and so many others. When we look for the good in people we usually find it. When we look for sin in others we usually find it. Let us be the kind of folks who look for the good. Happy Holidays.
