I LIKE TO TALK

1953


During my first time in the third grade at William Penn Elementary School I had already learned that I did not fit. I must have had some friends though. I know that because of the trouble I got into for talking. Probably for punishment it came and not for any lasting good, I was assigned to write a 100 word essay on talking. 

My father was invited to the school to discuss my situation.  The teacher whose name I have forgotten was furious.  She needed help. Dad explained that I did cover the topic.  Also, that my writing fit into the definition of an essay.  He thought it was funny and explained that I should be congratulated on being creative.


The teacher was not hearing what she wanted to hear. She unloaded on my father and explained:

1. Charles can not spell.
2. Charles was unable to read on the third grade level. 
3. Charles did not know learn the multiplication tables except for 2x and 10x. 
4. Charles would not pay attention during lessons. 
5. All Charles does is day-dream. 
6. Charles is an intelligent boy if only he would apply himself.  
7. Charles is more than she could handle. After all, there are 19 other students she was responsible for teaching.

  My fate was sealed.  I did not know that Dad met with her.  I found out later that evening and I was told that things were going to change. Now the misery of third grade, like a virus infected my home.  After school, homework needed to be finished before I could go outside to play. The school week now included Saturday and Sunday evening.

On Saturdays, I would sit from early morning at the desk in the living room until late afternoon.  I never accomplished much except for honing my day-dreaming skills.In my mind, I wandered the fields and woods that surrounded my home. I also cried a lot.

I never learned the multiplication skills. Later I found a Webster's Instant Word Guide, 'the dumb book'. It did help me spell better except on spelling tests. I completed homework poorly except for art projects.  I used science to get into the woods. Cub Scouts on Wednesdays after school and the long walk home made the week worth living through. In all of this I ached to be a better student and I wanted to read.

I continue to day-dream, walk in the fields and woods  I am able to talk with just about any one and about nearly everything. I use a calculator and Excel. I have spell checker.  I never learned to read well until 15 years after I earned my master's Degree. Any success at William Penn Elementary School was infrequent and short lived.  Why try when each of my successful experiences were followed with, "See Charles you can do it. Now why don't you work like that all the time."

I learned that failure kids are smarter than the teachers who complain about them. Those teachers simply are not flexible enough to work with those students.