Just a Teacher?
Miss Beatle stood in front of the classroom feeling a bit down. It didn't seem like the children had learned anything, nor did they show the least bit of interest in learning. She was doing her best only she was just a teacher and could only offer the children knowledge. What they did with it was in their hands. With this on her mind, the teacher turned and began cleaning the chalkboard. It wasn't two minutes later that she heard someone enter the schoolhouse. Putting down the eraser, she turned around. She was surprised to see young Laura Ingalls walking towards her looking rather nervous. "Laura? Is something wrong?"
"Kind of ma'am," Laura answered as she stopped in front of the desk, "it's just…" she looked down at the paper in her hand and then back up at Miss Beatle, who now had an even kinder smile upon her face as she quickly realized what the problem was. Though, she waited for Laura to finish her sentence which the child did after a few moments. "It's just that I got such a poor grade on this writing paper. I want to know why."
Miss Beatle, who had actually given Laura the C because she knew how hard the child had worked on it, walked around her desk and made her way to the front bench, excited that at least one student had just proved her wrong. That is, Laura wanted answers bad enough to ask questions. Soon Eva sat on the front bench, as did Laura.
"Your idea is good and, for the most part, your sentences are complete sentences. However," Miss Beatle said as she took the paper from Laura and began to point to one problem after another, "No one is going to take you as a serious writer, which I've heard you say more than once you'd like to do, if you don't care enough to clean up your paper. Look here," she said as she pointed to one of the sentences. "It's a question, but you have a period at the end." She then pointed out at least two dozen other punctuation and spelling errors.
"Punctuation and spelling are hard for me." Laura sighed, wishing such a thing wasn't necessary.
Miss Beatle again smiled. "I know, but don't worry. In time, as you learn to care more about your writing, you will realize how important it is. Also," she handed the paper back to Laura, "Every story has a beginning, middle and end. This story has a beginning and middle, but no real ending. No one likes being left hanging as it were. They want to know how everything worked out. Understand?"
Laura understood; she just didn't like it. Of course, she wasn't going to say that to the teacher she adored so. "Yes, ma'am," then, because she didn't want her parents to see such a low grade on her paper, she asked, "Is there any chance I can do it over?"
Miss Beatle nodded. "Remember, the assignment is actually not due for another two days. Take it home, work on it and hand it back in. Remember, you can do it if you take the time to stop and think. And, if you need it, I can even look at it again tomorrow."
"Oh, thank you!" Laura smiled from ear to ear as she stood up. "You just watch. I'll keep on writing until I get it right and then, someday, I'll be a famous writer!" The young girl turned and practically ran down the aisle and then disappeared around the wall that led to the front door.
Miss Beatle stood up and chuckled. As serious as Laura was about writing, Eva Beatle told herself she wouldn't be surprised if Laura was right. And, if she was right, the teacher couldn't help but wonder what the child would write about. It was, of course, something the teacher would remember years later as she went into a bookstore and bought the first book by Laura Ingalls Wilder. It was then, as at other times, that Eva Beatle Simms was more than grateful that she'd been "just a teacher ". After all, women like Laura made it all worth while.