A good number of memories came to my mind upon hearing that my sixth-grade teacher, Violet Zetlitz, passed away last May at the age of 81. I was one of Mrs. Zetlitz’s reading and social studies students at St. Louise de Marillac school in La Grange Park, Ill. during the 1981-82 school year. Upon hearing her passing, I began recalling not only her character traits in the way she taught classes but the notable traits of other teachers I had between 1976 and 1984.
“Who will forget “heads will roll”, a comment Mrs. Zetlitz usually said when she got upset with the class wrote Amy Stinson, a former student of hers on the St. Louise de Marillac Facebook page. I can’t say I recall that comment, but I do remember her telling those students who got out of line how if they don’t shape up something bad was going to happen and that it “wasn’t a threat. It was a promise.”
By comparison, the minute our reading class began, Mrs. Zetlitz would walk in through the back of the classroom so she could see what we were doing as we sat at our desks facing the blackboard. We’d immediately start reading whatever books each of us was assigned, then meet with her one on one as she asked us questions about what we read.
I can’t say I learned much since that reading class was self-paced. What I did enjoy was her afternoon social studies course in which she told us stories about the Greek tragedies. She knew how to make such tales interesting without needing a textbook. I got more out of hearing her tell us the story about the fall of Troy and the Trojan Horse than I did sitting through that three hour bore that starred Brad Pitt aptly titled, "Troy" (2004).
I can’t speak for the kinds of teacher's kids have today and whether any of them make a positive or negative impression on them or not. What I can say about the instructors I had in grade school, Mrs. Zetlitz included, is they don’t make teachers like them anymore.
©1/8/14
“Who will forget “heads will roll”, a comment Mrs. Zetlitz usually said when she got upset with the class wrote Amy Stinson, a former student of hers on the St. Louise de Marillac Facebook page. I can’t say I recall that comment, but I do remember her telling those students who got out of line how if they don’t shape up something bad was going to happen and that it “wasn’t a threat. It was a promise.”
Mrs. Zetlitz was always wearing business type suits and heels like the female CEOs we see today in charge of large corporations. Not a day went by that I didn’t hear the tapping of her high heels as she slowly walked towards her desk at the front of the class five days a week.The way she ran our reading class was the way that one history instructor in the movie, "Teachers" (1984), ran his. In that film the history teacher sat at his desk while the students walked to theirs. The minute the bell rang the students got their assignments and worked on it the entire period. Not once did the teacher actually say something to the class.
By comparison, the minute our reading class began, Mrs. Zetlitz would walk in through the back of the classroom so she could see what we were doing as we sat at our desks facing the blackboard. We’d immediately start reading whatever books each of us was assigned, then meet with her one on one as she asked us questions about what we read.
I can’t say I learned much since that reading class was self-paced. What I did enjoy was her afternoon social studies course in which she told us stories about the Greek tragedies. She knew how to make such tales interesting without needing a textbook. I got more out of hearing her tell us the story about the fall of Troy and the Trojan Horse than I did sitting through that three hour bore that starred Brad Pitt aptly titled, "Troy" (2004).
Mrs. Zetlitz was not the only grade schoolteacher I had who exhibited a number of unique character traits. I could tell you about my fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Dort, for example, who looking back now I am convinced had a massive high heel shoe collection like pop singer Celine Dion. Or my fifth-grade teacher, Miss Collins, who had a cure for students’ hiccups during her class that apparently was so gross she took the student into the hallway to enact the cure. Then there was my band teacher, Mr. Ward, who threatened to have my fingers nailed to the valves of my Cornet if I didn’t stop moving them off while playing.Were any of these teachers my favorite? No. Their job wasn’t to play favorites with the students. Their job was to teach. From 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mon through Friday (8 to 3:30 p.m. for me on Thursdays since I was in the band) these instructors and quite a few more were like our second parents in a way. Sure, they joked around with the classes and sometimes made learning fun, but they never let me forget who was in charge. If you stepped out of line, you got yelled at.
I can’t speak for the kinds of teacher's kids have today and whether any of them make a positive or negative impression on them or not. What I can say about the instructors I had in grade school, Mrs. Zetlitz included, is they don’t make teachers like them anymore.
©1/8/14
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