Tribute to a great teacher

[shadowknows69]

<http://www.webfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=139194&fh_id=11007&s_id=32D8CD2D5AEC28D7498112B3E62A74ED>

Ruth Jacobsen was my 11th and 12th grade English teacher and I can barely express the loss I feel right now. Not in any personal sense as I didn't know the woman beyond the walls of a classroom, but for her family and for the fact that she was one of the most influential people in my life. I am the son of two teachers who, like Mrs. J, are the kind of teachers that their students remember for life. That affect you. That shape you. So it should be no surprise that I consider teaching among the most holy of professions, if I may use such a word to describe it.

Ruth taught from the heart and mind and urged us to always use both in whatever we wrote. I was fortunate enough to take a creative writing course of hers and it was probably the best time I had in high school. She would never be too critical of our work past the technical things and despite my many attempts to shock her with some edgier stories her appreciation of the effort always outshone whatever reservations she might have about content. She just enjoyed a good story. I can't think of anymore to say about her without going on for too long, and she would scold me for not being more verbose, she surely deserves it. For now I'm simply going to kick back and remember a great human being and someone who showed me where my art was and that is something I can never repay even with the words she freed me to write.

Good Journey to you teacher. You truly were the best of the best example of the word. I look forward to toasting you at the reception Monday.

I love you Mrs. J,
Scott

[amitten]

1. I think there's a special place in Heaven for teachers like this.

We've all had one...we've all loved them. Glad you were touched by this great lady's talent.

[shadowknows69]

2. Anyone on here who has enjoyed anything I write

this really is one of the people to thank for it. It bears mentioning that Mrs. J was one of two of my teachers, the other an English teacher too, that I invited to my grad party, and they both came bearing books as gifts of course. How many teachers would do that?

[femmocrat]

3. She sounds like a great lady.

It's nice that you can go to honor her at the reception.

Just a note, and not just for you, shadowknows... If you know a great teacher, let him/ her know how much you appreciated their class or their lessons before they die. There is nothing I treasure more than nice notes from students and parents. I keep them in a special little box that looks like a book. It really means a lot to us!

Too many people are ready to criticize teachers without knowing how difficult their job is or how hard they work.

[shadowknows69]

4. As I said I hoped I did that when I asked to to come to my graduation party

The family one, not the drunken teenage wasteland I had later of course.

[havocmom]

5. Always good to read a tribute to an inspirational teacher

They are the unsung heroes of our society.

Special thanks to Mrs J for the impression she made on Shadow. Good teachers are faith in the future personified. They work too hard for too little against too many odds. Sometimes a seed they plant in a young mind grows well. Their sparse rewards, those minds they really open and inspire, are the very soul of our people.

Thanks for sharing this story, Shadow. Know special prayers offered for your teacher and her family. I do appreciate the work of her student and so, am grateful for her efforts.

[shadowknows69]

6. kicking for a great educator.