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October 06, 2007
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Southfield High School, Class of ’57 Reunion
Address by
Suzie Robinson
Thanks for inviting me to your party. Before I opened the invitation, I
looked at the return address and said “I think I taught that Boring kid –
but Lovers’ Lane?”
I
know you made great efforts to make it here tonight. But there are many who
could not come, but would like to be. (Donna’s letter.)
Fifty-five years ago, Mom put an article on my breakfast plate about
recruitment for a new high school in Southfield. She said it was “out
Telegraph – somewhere in farm country.” I applied, and got the job.
I
drove my used ’49 Hudson to the new school, found my way to the second-
floor library to the first faculty meeting. When I walked in the room, I
realized we were young, very young, to start a new school. The average age
being 26 and I was three years younger and the only biology teacher to
develop curriculum. Mrs. Muir, (the real CEO,) showed me my classroom.
There were five microscopes and a torso model with removable organs. She
told me, “Mr. Van Amede said the children shouldn’t touch it.” I
signed on for ‘52-53. I figured I would work a year, save my money and quit
to photograph African wildlife. Thirty-five years later, after 4,000
students and a lifetime of experience, I retired. The year before, SHS won
the presidential award for excellence in education, but it was
you people in the early years who laid the foundation. You taught us
how to be better teachers. Students and teachers have a reciprocal
relationship.
Now,
let’s take a look at changes 1957 to 2007…
1)
You were a
type A personality fighting peer pressure. In ’07 you’re still a type A
fighting blood pressure.
2)
In ’57 you
took your date to the rolladium; Now you settle for a Rollaid.
3)
You looked
for a “hip joint” to meet a cool kid; Now you look for a hip joint
replacement.
4)
You guys
combed your hair in a pompadour; Now you wish you had something to comb.
5)
You gals
fought the battle for Homecoming Queen. In ’07, your still fighting the
battle of the bulge.
6)
Mr. Mills
taught you a cataract was part of a waterfall; Now you find out you’ve got
one in your eye.
7)
You cheered
Coach Watts team-“Yey Jays!” Now you say, “Eh?”
8)
When you
were a teenager, “maybe;” Now you’re almost a Golden-ager and you say
“Depends!
Well,
you’ve realized your goals, you’ve taught, and preached, traveled
world-wide, worked for the Peace Corps, and published books. I have
received a book from Mel “Guinea Pig Scientist” and
also a book from Margaret “Honest to Genesis.”
Writing a book is an unrealized goal of mind. To paraphrase Robert
Browning, “Ahh, but a student’s work must exceed her teacher’s or
what’s an education for?” After retiring, I spent a year of aimless
drifting. Then I pursued the three B’s – bonsai, birds, and Bible. In the
book of Genesis, chapter 1: 26, we read that “human kind is given
dominion over the creatures of the earth.” This does not mean
domination, but stewardship.
But
in the end, we will save only what we love, we love only what we know, and
we know only what we are taught.
Enjoy
your reunion and don’t be sad when it’s over. Be glad it ever happened. Go
out and live fearlessly! You are loved!
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