Worms in My Apple

By Anna Olsson

In the 1950s, the author was a college student working toward a degree in education, looking forward to beginning a career in teaching. To allay expenses in completing her degree, she accepted a position as a teacher in a remote area where it was difficult to place teachers with a degree. Here she learned the true meaning of dedication and the need for good teachers. She completed her education and spent thirty-six years in the classroom. Upon retiring, she published two cookbooks and continued her love for cooking, writing, spending time with family and friends, and planning her next project. Her love for teaching and her memories of the many children whose lives she touched resulted in this book where she could share stories that were such a big part of her adult life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984570635

Anna Olsson

This is an amazing journey of a thirty-six year teaching career, beginning in a one room school on a mountain in Appalachia in the mid-fifties, and ending in a suburban school in a large Florida city. Along the way, the author will keep you entertained with anecdotes of children from varied cultures and different eras. Some stories will have you laughing , while others will bring tears to your eyes. It is obvious that society has changed in many ways during this time frame and definitely is reflected in the classroom, but the fact that the writer hopes to instill in this book, is that children are basically the same. They react in like manner to most situations, but there is one huge difference in the students of today and the kids of earlier decades. Technology has changed the way that teachers teach, and the way that students learn. The students in this book had not been introduced to computers, cell phones, Ipads or other technological tools that are taken for granted in the classrooms of today. Throughout this book, it becomes evident that the writer enjoyed her profession and cared deeply for her students.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Beginning the Journey

W INDING AROUND THE narrow dirt road with a sheer drop on either side, I became aware that all that stood between me and the bottom of the mountain was the thick growth of trees and bushes. I glanced at Joe Tatum, the county school administrator and my driver, to see if he had the same thought; but his face was emotionless, concentrating on keeping the jeep in the well-worn ruts. We were headed up Knob Tree Mountain to a one-room school where I was to be the new teacher. I was filled with excitement, but at this moment, fear was riding alongside my enthusiasm as I was about to begin a journey that I had dreamed of for so long.

Since third grade, I had known that I was going to be a teacher. Now, at age nineteen, it was finally happening! With only a year and a half of college, it was unbelievable. But it was the midfifties, a time of massive teacher shortages in certain areas of the country; and with as few college credits as forty, one could go into areas where there was no hope of getting a fully certified teacher. All that was required was a B-average and a recommendation from the dean of the teacher’s college where I attended. I knew that this would present no problem, and since I was in need of monetary assistance to complete my college education, I jumped at the opportunity.

There was a bulletin board in the lobby of the administration building where I was enrolled for summer courses, and I checked it daily after completing my studies for the day. It had listings by county of vacancies for uncertified teachers. With only a week before opening of schools in the surrounding counties, I was becoming desperate. Finally, I found what I was looking for!

Teacher needed for one-room school! It was an area in Appalachia, where it was difficult to find certified teachers who would agree to go into those areas. I felt confident that I could somehow find lodging as I would not be able to go home often, probably only on holiday vacations.

I lost no time calling the number of the county office and setting up an appointment. Everything happened so fast after the interview that I had no more than finished my final exams for the summer, until I found myself packing for the trip up the mountain to begin what I hoped would be a career in teaching.

Having no automobile, I had to depend on someone to transport me to the area for the first time. The school board, determined to hold on to a much-needed teacher, offered Joe Tatum’s services as chauffeur. He was the personnel director and was probably overjoyed to be able to place a teacher in this area. Not only would he drive me up the mountain but would also not leave until he found me a place to board.

Now, at last, I was ready to soon meet my new pupils and to begin what I hoped would be a long and fulfilling career.

As we pulled into the schoolyard, several children of various sizes ran to meet us; and before I stepped out of the jeep, I was surrounded by approximately twenty wide-eyed youngsters. They were staring at us, no doubt wondering if their teacher had finally arrived. It was a beautiful fall morning, and they were just milling around, totally unsupervised, except for one lone parent who lived nearby. Briefly speaking to them, Mr. Tatum ushered me into the one-room wooden building that served as both a church on weekends and an elementary school for the area during the week. The children followed us and began pelting us with questions in their curiosity to know why we were there.

I informed them that, yes, I was their new teacher and was looking forward to getting to know them. I had been informed earlier that I would have students in grades 1 through 8. I tried to quickly scan the inquisitive faces of the group before me. Judging from the varied size of the group, I made a calculated guess that I must have at least one student in each grade. What a challenge this was going to be!

Suddenly, a small boy that looked to be ten or eleven years old stepped up and began to speak in a loud voice.

Teacher, do you know what happened to our last teacher?

No, what happened? I replied, beginning to feel a little apprehensive.

Well, he began, feeling empowered to speak for the group since all eyes were fastened on him, we didn’t like him one bit, so we tied his necktie around his neck and rocked him all the way down the mountain. Damn, you should have seen him run! Enjoying his rendition of the story, he laughed gleefully as the others began chiming in with their own version and laughing loudly. They were becoming unruly, and I knew it was time to calm them down and put an end to this. I sensed that Mr. Tatum was watching anxiously to see if I was going to step up and take charge.

Speaking in what I hoped was an authoritative voice, I interrupted them and told them to quickly take a seat and I would talk to them about myself and my hopes and plans for the new school year. I assured them that I was looking forward to get to know them for us to have a very successful year of learning.

First of all, I said, we will use appropriate language for a classroom, and there will be no more curse words used here.

"But, Teacher, Jeremiah cusses all the time, and nobody pays any attention