Former Warren Teacher Is Remembered
The following article about
former Warren County teacher
Annette F Daniel of i^arrenton
was published recently in The
Henderson Daily Dispatch It is
reprinted here with permission.
By LAVERNE JEFFRIES
Dally Dispatch Society Editor
For the umpteenth time, I sat
at the dinner table listening to my
son complain about one of his
teachers. How familiar it all
sounded.
"She's the meanest woman on
earth. She's the strictest, most
demanding, hateful human I've
ever known. It doesn't matter
what you do, she always wants
more. You can't please her. She
picks on me all the time. I feel
sorry for her husband, having to
live with her."
His words became a slight whir
as my thoughts drowned out his
grumbling. I guess we all have
had a teacher exactly like he
described, but I was very for
tunate to have the "meanest
teacher in the world for two
straight years.
It was back in the mid-1%0 s
while I was a seventh- and eighth
grader at Macon Junior High
School in Warren County. I was
at the age where, contrary to my
parents' teachings, academics
were no longer a major priority.
Sports, parties and boys (in that
order) had taken on new mean
ings. ..
While I was spending ray after
school hours at Polk-A-Dot s
record store in Warrenton listen
ing to Elvis' newest singles, she
must have been calculating inva
sion plans. Infiltrate she did
with more power than Patton s
Army!
She grasped hold of one of my
hobbies?creative writing?and
wouldn't let go. The thought had
never entered my mind to
become a writer, or work for a
newspaper for that matter. I on
ly liked to write about things I
couldn't discuss with anyone or
create situations where I could
become whoever I wished and do
whatever I wished.
For two years, I dodged the
curves she fired in my direction.
She assigned compositions,
scrapbooks, projects, tests,
posters, research papers, etc.
with the conviction I could and
would complete them. Weekends
were no different than any other
day of the week.
As I look back, I remember the
times she returned papers and
mine would be artistically
decorated in red. If all the
answers were correct, she would
write in the margin "illegible."
There was no doubt. She was
"picking" on me. Nothing I did
seemed to satisfy her.
Maybe it was the look in her
eyes that forced me to give in and
play the game by her rules. It
possibly could have been the fact
that she lived directly across the
street from our house, and that it
made it a little too close for com
fort. For whatever reason, I
pulled through those teenage
years with the "meanest"
teacher on earth.
A month or two before gradua
tion from junior high, we had to
complete a scrapbook for our
study of N.C. History. A project
of this type was quite a feat for
someone who detested history of
any kind. But, the woman had
planted a seed of revenge
somewhere deep in my mind and
I was just stubborn enough to rise
to the occasion. I would show
her?she wasn't the only one who
knew pertinent facts about our
state. In fact, I probably came up
with a few new ones.
For two months, I gave up
Elvis, the Beatles and softball.
Nothing was as important as that
scrapbook. There was no way I'd
let anything stand in the way of
my finally getting to see the
"meanest" teacher in the world
eat crow.
I talked my mama into var
nishing the cover, and even got
my daddy to go to The Warren
Record where the late Bignall
Jones cut the pages the ap
propriate size.
As the due date grew near, my
determination took a back seat as
fears started to grow. I felt no
matter what I submitted to the
woman, there would still be
something lacking. I honestly felt
I had done my best and that was
all I could do.
Today my eighth-grade scrap
book on the history of North
Carolina is now flanked by my
first-grader's art work and my
ninth-grader's poster of James
Worthy?all treasured memories
of days gone by. Written on the
first page were these words:
"Laverne, You have done an ex
cellent job for which you should
be very proud. Congratula
tions!?Annette F. Daniel, May 4,
1965.
It was many years later before
I realized the depth of this par
ticular woman's love for teaching
and for her students. Those few
words of praise and her unfailing
guidance definitely made an im
pact on my life.
When you see this in print, Mrs.
Daniel, please try to overlook the
errors. Deadline pressures ace
almost as demanding as you'
were.
Thank goodness for "mean"
teachers. I hope my children
have them every year.
Your Week Ahead Horoscope
ARIES
Mai. 21-Apr. 19
TAURUS
Apr. 20-May 20
GEMINI
May 21-June20
CANCER
June21-July 22
LEO
July 23-Aug. 22
VIRGO
Aug. 23-Sept. 22
LIBRA
Sept.23-Oct.22
SCORPIO
Oct.23-Nov.21
SAGITTARIUS
Nov. 22-Dec. 21
CAPRICORN
Dec. 22-Jan. 19
AQUARIUS
Jan. 20-Feb. 18
PISCES
Feb. 19-Mar. 20
Forecast Period: 2/23-3/1/86
Contributions of time and money help quiet your con
cern for those you consider less fortunate. It's a give
andtakesituation.
Hopes and wishes seem to fall into place with apparent
ease, but you know the effort you've put into it.
Recognition comes your way through a promotion
up the ladder. You will enjoy your popularity.
Familiarize yourself with the habits and customs of a
foreign culture. Gain through increased knowledge
is likely.
The immediate future looks promising for increasing
assets. Study investment possibilities with the thought
of building up reserves.
Sharing your good fortune puts and affluent touch to
all dealings with mate or partner.
A new cycle begins in the work sector. Nothing is too
difficult for you to handle. Your accomplishments
are great.
Enjoy the social and personal popularity coming your
way. You are a keen competitor in challenging games.
Expect changes on the domestic scene. Consider the
advantages to be had from the standpoint of a different
environment.
Keep a cheerful outlook. You can't afford to retreat
and brood over thoughtless actions of others. No harm
is meant.
Aspects look good for increasing income and holdings.
Shrewd maneuvering puts a solid foundation to build
savings on.
Good opportunity comes through your association
with others. Act with authority in matters with which
you are familiar.
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