The school was isolated. Our town was tiny. The “Peavine,” an IC spur, ran through the middle of town until the tracks were taken up and sold. The red, three story schoolhouse was built during the Hoover administration.

The metal flagpole, in front of the school, had a long chain to hoist the flag each morning. The school janitor brought the flag down when he left school after oiling the floors each afternoon. The floors were always shiny and somewhat smelly. The sidewalk in front of the school was a semicircle, but very smooth so kids could exercise by skating each morning before school – generally these were girls who did the skating.

Almost all boys were playing marbles. Each would start at the ‘lag’ line and shoot their ‘toys’ into a huge ring and then into a hole freshly dug in the dirt. The older boys may have been playing for ‘keeps’ but the school principal did not know that secret. When the bell rang to begin school, everyone scattered up the stairs to classrooms.

It was not known at the time, but our tiny consolidated school was staffed with fantastic master teachers. This was a benefit for all students. One teacher left our school and was head coach at a large Memphis high school. The husband of another teacher was an ‘extra’ in the movie “Baby Doll,” a classic extravaganza in California. A fifth-grade teacher later became a county superintendent of education. A lot of good things happened at this small rural school, maybe not so isolated after all.

It was not the knowledge of the content in various subjects, nor her presentation before the class, but her passion for each child to succeed and her wish for each child to become a good citizen.

In many ways ‘Miss Virginia’ was ahead of her times: “Trust in the Lord” was printed at the top of the blackboard. This biblical thought would remain for a long period of time before her students.

Miss Virginia taught a prayer of thanksgiving for our daily bread. No matter who you were, you were precious in the eyes of Miss Virginia. She created a classroom newspaper. Many kids came from homes where there was no paper or very few books to read. Each day there was the “Second Grade News” for all to read. She wrote the news on the board, but one student was the ‘editor’ each day. For several months in the school year, two adults attended the second grade. These two men were Hispanics. They came to learn English, and they did. All of the above would be against the law today.

In a corner of the classroom was a second-grade store. She had taken the time to cut out ‘play-like’ coins from cardboard to be used by the two students who went into the ‘store.’ The cashier was also a student. Math transactions were happening, but kids did not call it arithmetic.

Miss Virginia was a big believer in the Spenserian Handwriting System. The Coca-Cola Company gave all children a writing tablet and a red pencil. This huge company does not need my compliments, but this was a wonderful gift for each child. Remember the Madison Avenue Coke jingle “The pause that refreshes?” The tablet has a colorful picture of a person drinking a Coke. The pencil was fire-truck red and had the Coke logo printed in black.

Our teacher would practice this handwriting method by making sure your arm was flat on the table. She then would say, “On your muscle” over and over. Then she would demonstrate the oval stroke that was repeated for perfection. There was pride and clarity in each child’s handwriting.

Miss Virginia’s mission was to reach your heart and to tap into your worthiness. Two families with 12 children each came through her guidance and indelible master teaching. Each of the 24 became worthy and well-adjusted citizens, a legacy of which to be extremely proud.

A few people were asked about master teachers in their school career. Several said they had two or three, so called good teachers, but one person said – zero. A young child who has loving parents and a master teacher to encourage learning generally will do well in school and also do well in his or her chosen profession.

Thank you Lord for loving parents and a master teacher for guidance.

Talk it over with the Father, and then leave the outcome to His wisdom.

Walter Redden is a Northsider.