From: loubuxton@att.net
Date: 2/18/2007 12:34:40 AM
To: DWisor@beaumontenterprise.com
Subject: SPHS Memories
 
Hi Donna,
 
It's Lou Bodden Buxton again.  I've just been informed that you'd like to have some memories from alumni of SPHS.  I can tell you about my experiences and how they molded me for a lifetime of being prepared for whatever came my way.
 
First, let me say that I was an average student.  A's and B's were the norm, but when I reached SPHS, I found that I'd have to work for those grades instead of them just coming to me easily. 
 
Two teachers really helped to shape my adult life, though at the time, I was too silly to realize what they were imparting to me for the future. 
 
 Miss Cashin was my English teacher and what a teacher she was.  She made English come alive for me.  Even diagraming sentences became like a puzzle the way she taught them.  It seemed she knew just how to touch each student to find what "clicked" with them so they'd learn what they needed for their future.  The guys in my class thought she was a "tough" teacher, but I and the other girls in my particular class found her delightful and caring.  Because of her giving me the foundation in English, I've gone on to become an author and a published poet, as well as having the vocabulary to work for Attorneys and Physicians.  You see, she gave me a gift that grows every day and becomes more precious to me as I grow older.
 
Then, there was Mr. Lively.  What a man and what a teacher!  I was so excited to learn to type, so needless to say when I was put into his class, I was elated.  However, I learned very quickly, his class wasn't going to be just sitting at a desk, slouched over with my feet crossed and chewing gum.  OH NO, that wouldn't happen in his class...well maybe it would happen ONCE, but only once.
 
Mr. Lively was a gentleman that gave everyone in his class the same chance to learn.  He did have a plan that would cull the students who really wanted to learn and those who were just in his to be in there.  Depending on how quickly we learned and how we improved on our speed, with only 3 errors on a manual Royal typewriter, we could move up a chair toward the front of the class.  There were 3 IBM electric typewriters on the front row of the classroom, but only the fastest typists and the typists with no errors could use those electric typewriters.  I know this must sound silly now, but an electric typewriter was a real phenomenon in 1964, & 65. 
 
Anyway, I started out in the front third of the classroom and was doing very well working my way toward those electric IBM's.  Then, looking forward to a school dance, I was letting my fingernails grow so they'd look nice with polish on them for the party.  Well, not in Mr. Lively's class you didn't.  I tried to be very careful to keep my fingers hidden when he walked passed my desk, but one day he caught me with fingernails showing past the tips of my fingers.  Well...I was in for the fright of my life.  Of course, I knew the rules, but I guess I thought I needed to have pretty nails instead of following the rules. 
 
Mr. Lively, touched me on the left shoulder and said, Frankie (that's my first name, but my middle name is Louise and I go by "Lou").  When I heard him use my first name, I knew I was in for it.  The rule was, if your nails could be seen past the tip of your fingers, he'd take you to the paper cutter and cut them off for you.  He escorted me over to the paper cutter, pointed to it, looked at me as I looked at him with "cow eyes filled with tears" and he pointed to the paper cutter.  Lord, I was terrified!  As I began to raise my hands and move them toward the paper cutter, the corner of his mouth turned up in a tiny grin.  He knew my nails weren't long enough to be cut with the paper cutter, but I didn't.  He asked me if he needed to cut my nails for me and I assured him that I could and would do it as soon as I got home.  "Good girl", he said, and back to my desk I went with such relief.< /STRONG>
 
He taught me to discipline "ME" and discipline for working in an office.  Don't even think of crumpling up paper, either.  That wouldn't happen.  Today, nobody that comes into my office is allowed to crumple or wad up paper.  My grandson, Christopher, who's 14, tells everybody that they can find out what I've worked on for a year by going through my large trash can because everything is neatly stacked just like the paper had just came out of the reem. 
 
I always looked forward to going to Mr. Lively's class because I knew I'd learn something new and I'd continue to work toward those electric typewriters in the front of the classroom.
 
Well, my first year in Mr. Lively's typing class I worked my way to one typewriter away from the electric.  But the next year, my Senior year, I worked my way up to the first IBM and remained there until I graduated in 1965.  Mr. Lively gave me more gifts than he ever knew.  He kept all of us in line with his unusual and ingenious way of teaching.
 
So you see, between Miss Cashin and Mr. Lively, I've been well served in every job I've had and every obstacle that came my way.  Because Miss Cashin taught me correct grammar, my vocabulary kept me talking to people who introduced me to worlds I'd have never known.  And because of Mr. Lively, I could type fast enough to get a job on the first computer system set up in a huge Beaumont Doctor's office in the mid 1970's.  No interview, no job application, just on the merits of the speed of my typing.  I call that good teaching for which I'm forever grateful. 
 
Now, I have my own home business and I utilize the skills and self discipline everyday that I learned at South Park.  Please let people know that South Park has deep roots for us and could have those same roots for future generations, if only given a chance.
 
Thank you for your time and all your help, Donna.
 
God Bless you,
Lou Bodden Buxton
SPHS Class of '65
LouBuxton@att.net