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REMEMBERING CLOVIS HIGH SCHOOL, 1950--51
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Have you ever been told: "Shut up!"---and you kind of liked it? When Ms. Russell said that to one of us in her Spanish Three class, it was almost an honor! Probably every member of the class was told, at one time or another, (lovingly and benevolently) by our teacher: "Callate, Pedro!"...."Callate, Diego!"... and so on. She said it with a mischievous twinkle in her eye and in a mock angry tone, and she really meant: "The horseplay and fun is over; now let's get down to business and learn some Spanish!"
Most of the kids in Spanish Three at Clovis High School in 1950--51, had taken Spanish One in Junior High (and were in a Spanish musical at the junior high gym), Spanish Two from Ms. Russell, and now Spanish Three. She had warned us, at enrollment: "Now we are going to be translating a whole Spanish novel, 'Amalia'---are you ready for that?" I still have my 51-year- old copy of "Amalia." The pencil marks on the pages are fading.
That didn't deter the group of roughly twenty-four students from enrolling in her class; a select group that would in the future give to the world: farmers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, dentists, statesmen, home builders, veterinarians, chemists, engineers, geologists, ministers, and housewives.
Señorita Russell, as we liked to call her, suggested that we each select a Spanish given name for ourselves. Time has caused my memory to fade some, but there were Diego, Andres, Sancho, Alonso, Carlos, Felicia, Pedro, Pancho, Pepe, Rafael, Felicia, Teresita, and others.
Corresponding with Jim W., 51 years later (and we used a lot of Spanish), I referred to him as "Sancho." He wrote: "My Spanish name was Jaime, not Sancho!" I wrote back and said: "Pardon me, but it was SANCHO!" There we let it rest until one day about four months later, when I received an email from Jim, saying: "You were right, it IS SANCHO! I was reading an old annual and all over it people were writing, 'Good luck in life, Sancho,' and 'Good ball-playing, Sancho' "
The secret to being able to talk Spanish somewhat fluently involves a lot of usage and practice. A number of the class became quite proficient and were called on to translate in their businesses, and even at garage sales! Several of the class went on to take Spanish Four in college. One wrote a nine page short story titled "LA BRUJA."
Many members of that class will tell you today that it was a highlight in their lives and one of the best courses they ever had. After reading the recent post about "Mr. Elms," a class member suggested memorials to a number of our other "excellent but underpaid"
So, I'm proud today to make this tribute to Ms. Dora Russell---a woman with no guile in her soul---but a lot of joy and love for her students and her subject, Spanish! She was enough kid-at-heart to go along with our fun and shenanigans in order to make learning fun. She kept control because of our great admiration and respect for her. She knew when it was time to say: "Callate!" Our Ms. Russell, we do remember you and appreciate you ...with the UTMOST AFFECTION AND FONDNESS!
(If the Spanish Three class were to sit again tomorrow, there would be at least four empty desks. Gone are these members: Andres Roberts, Sancho Whatley, Alonso Mardis, and Engle Southard. We miss them...a lot.)
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BY MIL
7/09/12
Sent from my iPad
BY MIL
7/09/12
Sent from my iPad
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