GREAT TEACHERS ARE REVERED

I had some great teachers in my high school, Webster Groves (Missouri ) High School, near St. Louis, 1966-1969. They were all good, but the following ones we're outstanding: 1. Mrs. Frederickson who taught us creative writing and the fine literature of other writers; 2. Mr. Dempsey who taught us geometry, simply and clearly; 3. Mr. Buddy Webb who taught us civics, requiring that we read the newspaper columns every day; assigning the book DIE NIGGER DIE by H. Rap Brown as a class assignment and inviting me back to the high school to speak to an assembly in 2006 or 2007; 4. Mr. Litzsinger who taught us biology and advanced biology and under whom we pithed (paralyzed with a pin to observe blood flow) frogs, and dissected sharks and cats; 5. Mr. Howard Derrickson who taught us English literature and Shakespeare and the works of classic poets, while assigning Haiku poetry to read and write and that of Mexico. Don't know why, this morning, these teachers have come to mind. But, because many subtle forces , influences., experiences, and particular persons shape each of us, uniquely, it never hurts to thank them, while we can, even if they cannot hear it . Someone will!