Date: 2/18/2007 12:34:40
AM
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