COLUMN
Let's not forget to thank the teachers
CLEONEWBURN

The auctioneer began in the usual way with, "What am I bid, and who'll start the bidding?"

I looked up to see what was being auctioned and like the rest of the people around me, I gasped in horror as an elderly, silver haired woman was escorted to the auction platform.

"Who'll start the bidding?" the auctioneer asked again. "What am I bid? Come on … someone … give me a bid."

The room fell silent and people began to ask what this outrageous display was all about.

"Why, haven't you heard," he said. "This old school teacher is of no use anymore. She had the audacity to really believe that children should be disciplined, that they should respect the flag; and she was letting the children pray in her classroom.

"That can't be allowed. Now, again, who'll start the bidding?"

The crowd began to think, and to speak. We spoke about the children she taught and what she had taught and what those students had become.

The room was filled with doctors, lawyers, bankers, farmers, teachers, preachers, nurses, newspaper editors, homemakers, and computer programmers - and on and on the list grew. It was a list of people from every walk of life. For 40 years - a lifetime - she touched thousands of lives and thousands of hearts.

I thought back to the day I first heard her name: Mrs. Richards. I was about 10 years old when one of my older brothers came home from school announcing that she was his math teacher.

The following six years, she taught one of my sisters, myself and my younger brother, encouraging us all, stressing how important an education was, how blessed we were to live in a country where public schooling was available to all.

Mrs. Richards became a friend, counselor and confidante to me. Years later she taught my nephews and a niece. She became a fixture at the high school, a fixture that equaled security.

I admit we strayed from math sometimes to discuss current events, but we never left her class without learning something of value.

As I was thinking, "This can't be happening," several people began to speak.

A lady in a green hat stood up.

"Mrs. Richards is responsible for what my son made of his life," she said. "My husband and I felt that we had done all we could for him and began to feel that we failed him. He was uninterested in anything we tried to encourage him to do.

"He changed the year he was placed in Mrs. Richards' class. He not only did well in math, but he began to take an interest in the different races, different cultures, government and the word "freedom" took on a new meaning for him.

He now serves as one of our state representatives."

"Why she taught my father about honesty and truth - which became an important part of his life and lives on through me and my children.

"He always quoted Mrs. Richards to us: 'always tell the truth and then you won't ever have to worry; but tell a lie and you'll find yourself telling more lies to cover the first lie," thus spoke our mayor.

As the assembly talked, the auctioneer kept asking, "who'll start the bidding? What am I bid?"

Finally one young man stood up and walked to the platform. He held his hand out to Mrs. Richards and while we watched, he helped her down, and we heard him say as he led her away, "I'm taking Mrs. Richards home now.

"No one here would have enough money to buy a priceless jewel like this person. Her price is far above rubies and her candle will never go out. It will shine on in the lives of all who know her and of those whose lives they influence."

I awoke and realized I was dreaming - a very bad dream.

I lay there and wondered how many Mrs. Richards there are in this world.

I would pray we don't let them go unnoticed and unthanked for playing perhaps one of the most important roles in life - molding the lives of children.

Texas Public Schools Week was started my the Masonic Lodges of Texas to recognize the contributions made by the state's free system of education.

This week, March 5-9, is Texas Public Schools Week.

Why not show your support by visiting your child's school and letting his teacher know that you appreciate the part he plays in your child's life.

A powerful partnership between parents and teachers can insure a strong education system and assure your child a happier and more productive future.

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Cleo Newburn is a Bullard resident and formerly worked in the newspaper business.