Earlier this evening I wrote a post about one of the semi-final matches in the US Open Women's Tennis Championship taking place this weekend in Flushing, New York.
One commentor asked me a question about whether or not I played tennis. I answered that earlier in my life... I just loved playing tennis, but right now... my ankles are too weak, and getting around the court would be a problem. Then I started going into a story about my teaching career... which lasted nine years... and immediately preceded my becoming a Realtor. Here's the story.
It seemed like hundreds of years ago... but there I was... just beginning teaching. I was still IN college... but was asked by a local Catholic School if I would teach in their parish seventh grade... using a "provisional" teaching certificate. I had not even considered teaching as a career... but was really "taken" by the idea... and after much thought... I accepted.
The degree I was pursuing in college... was Psychology. I was minoring in Philosophy, and also had a second minor in French. I was having fun... and learning lots of things in fields I really enjoyed. Then... all of a sudden... there I was... teaching seventh and eighth grade.
I knew I had always possessed a talent... a gift for teaching. It just came naturally to me. And... in taking the required "teaching methods" courses to qualify for the provisional certificate... I had my start.
After our first curriculum meetings with the rest of the staff... our strengths as far as knowledge were discussed... and then the subjects for the "junior high" division... seventh and eighth grades... were handed out. I was always absolutely excellent at math... and after testing out of it in college... I was chosen to teach it to the seventh and eighth graders. Four classes of math, two of history, one homeroom... and then... came the following discussion... or challenge... whichever you prefer to call it.
It seemed there was enough money in the school budget for the boys to have a certified phys ed teacher... but for the girls... no. And... way back then... it wasn't even thought necessary that the girls even NEEDED to have phys ed. After all... they... were girls !
So... as the principal looked around the room... she came to the last two teachers... myself, and an eighty-three year old nun with really bad arthritis. One look at poor Sister Mary Holywater... and the decision was obvious. I... was chosen... as the new girls phys ed teacher for all of the eighth grade girls. I loved it. It was great.
I must admit... I had to spend a lot of my own money on equipment... although many of the girls had their own things they could bring. But... we did it. Ran track, did calisthentics, played soccer... and played softball... and played it with enough enthusiasm that we actually challenged the boys to a game... and BEAT them.
And that... is how teaching phys ed... became part of my teaching resume. I had forgotten all about that... until the question earlier today about whether or not I played tennis. What a nice memory to have run past my mind's eye again. :)
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