The Mysterious, Dark, Hidden Recesses Of The World Of Education: My Story

By Mary Frances Hedrick Garrett

This book is designed to show the reader the funny, mysterious, dark, sad, and inspiring side of the author's adventures during her years in public and private education. Many events, from horrible to wonderful are included. High (or low) praise goes to students/teachers/schools/coworkers that were part of this journey. It is a tribute to other teachers, especially those who are young, inexperienced, or naive who are teaching in today's educational system. Enjoy the humor, thirty-five years of adventures from slum area schools to private schools. Above all, see how God has provided needs and gone ahead of her in every stage of the journey, and provided needs, godly mentors, and blessings for her family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 8, 2017
• ISBN: 9781640288164

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The Mysterious, Dark, Hidden 

Recesses of the World of Education

My Story

Mary Frances Hedrick Garrett

ISBN 978-1-64028-815-7 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64028-816-4 (Digital)

Copyright © 2017 by Mary Frances Hedrick Garrett

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

296 Chestnut Street

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Chapter 1

Early Life, Teaching and Education, and Family

Early Life

I remember having fun as a child and youngster especially with my brother and sister closest to my own age, David and Kathy. We all had a sense of humor. My humor developed into a Spontaneous, Smart Comebacks style as I got older. If possible, I could find another person like myself, it could become lively and loud. I liked humor in everything! I did have to be careful because some people don’t find some situations funny. Like church, funerals, people getting hurt, solemn occasions. I think you get my drift.

Teaching and Education

As I recall . . . and the recalling is getting more difficult every day . . . I knew all through high school, I wanted to teach high school history and social studies when I graduated from college. I was in FTA, was a teacher’s aid, and even taught a class a few times. I was on my way!

Family

Although my dad was in the gospel ministry all his life, and pastored Baptist churches, he did on at least one occasion, venture into the world of education during WWII. There was a shortage of teachers so he taught math for a while. (Remember the subject of math. It will be important during my life.)

My oldest brother, Charles, was also in the ministry, and pastored many Baptist churches, but he taught for a while in a Central KY high school. Later on, he and his wife, Carrie, taught in the seminary in Nigeria, where they were missionaries. Charles later taught at CU. His wife, Carrie, was a lifetime elementary teacher until her death. Charles’s second wife, Sharon, was a lifetime elementary teacher until her retirement. Educationally speaking, Charles received his doctorate in ministry.

My second oldest brother, Don, spent some time at UK. He also completed a technology/electronic course that taught such things as building short waves/radios/TVs, etc. (We were just babies in technology at that time.) He made programs for computers for the government. He was also a lifelong student because computer technology and electronics grew at overwhelming rates.

Moving right along, is my next brother, David, who is only fourteen months older than I. He spent many years in school and teaching. He is a musician extrodinarie. He has a doctorate in music and taught in public school until retirement. He was adjunct teacher in the music department at CU, and is currently retired from full-time assistant professor of music at CU.

My younger sister Kathy is . . . guess what? . . . .a teacher also! She attended CU school of music on a bassoon scholarship! Do you even know what a bassoon is? Look it up! She later became a middle-school teacher and taught in various schools in KY until her retirement. She enjoys retirement. And bingo! And playing cards!

Chapter 2

My Story Begins

Maybe you remember, or maybe you don’t even care . . . I wanted to be a high school history teacher. And I did receive my BS degree from CU. Eventually. I crammed that four-year degree into five years. I was not just having fun. I was working.

FINALLY . . . COMMENCEMENT!

I was so proud, confident, and happy.

My then fiancée, now, husband, George was also going to be a……(if you can’t guess by now you are not very bright) . . . teacher! He was receiving his BS degree in music from CU. He had been recruited in the spring by JCPS, in Louisville, KY., his hometown, to teach elementary music. Recruited! Spring!

I had also applied in JCPS which has hundreds of teachers, 120,000 students. (I felt good about my chances.) I had also applied in every school district within driving distance, including Indiana. I waited. And waited…. little less confident. I kept calling the school systems. A job. Anywhere!

(George and I were getting married in Campbellsville in October and I needed a job.)

Then one day it happened! I got a call from the Superintendent of WPSS which had grades 1-8. Wow! It was in the next county over from Jefferson. Yeah! Not too shabby, sister. I looked back later and saw the humor in the story. Seems he had a history teacher who had cancer. Now in the event the poor guy died would it be okay to call me. Really? OK God, that’s not funny. It’s pitiful.

I was twenty-two years old and getting older by the minute, and was fast losing confidence.

I was on the phone a lot and I was getting the same old story: "No jobs for history or social studies teachers . . . social studies teachers are a dime a dozen! We have a stack of applications from dozens of teachers . . . our coach, or PE teacher teaches social studies . . ." Really!? Social Studies? Coaches, jocks, good old boys! I was appalled! They surely did not receive a degree from CU. Many of my classes were hard! I still break out into hives or a cold sweat when I think of Dr. Y, Mrs. Y, Mr. C, and especially Dr. T! They chewed up and spit out good old boys.

My outlook and confidence were waning!

School had already started . . . everywhere.

I was still living at home in Campbellsville, planning our October 12 wedding. Good grief! How would we pay for it? What was I going to do? I needed a job. Here I was . . . no job . . . no interviews—nothing. So what was there left to do? Panic? No, pray! God had to do something. I had been his faithful child for years and I needed help!

Chapter 3

Jefferson County Public Schools

Two days after school had started, one of the superintendents from JCPS called me at home in Campbellsville, and asked me if I still needed a job?

Are you kidding me? Of course I still need a job! What took you so long to call?

It was actually more like, Yes sir, I do still need a job.

The Story:

Last night, a seventh-grade teacher at SHS called him at home … to resign from her job. (Should that have been a sign to me?) When he went into his office this morning, someone had written my name down and left it on his desk. If I wanted the job it was mine. How soon could I begin?

(No kidding!) I’m sure you know my answer!

No interview . . . no phone calls to JCPS . . . who put my name on his desk . . . We still don’t know. God was beginning His story in my teaching career.

I started teaching the next day. A small town girl to going to the big city. A girl with NO sense of direction. I stayed with my fiancé family a few days until I found an apartment. I also found out something about myself:

***I did not like living by myself. (Especially in the rough neighborhood of our apartment.) We had to move me to apartment #2 after a guy beat up a girl in front of our house. I don’t care for violence!

Meanwhile, we got married on October 12. Beautiful wedding, beautiful day. Bad news on the horizon! George had already received his draft notice, but he didn’t tell me until after the wedding. It seems Uncle Sam wanted George!