Lee Note 77 Math and Latin Memories July 6, 2001

From Martha McKean

Ah Mr. Childress...

I was terrified of the man. But then I was afraid of most of my teachers. I had learned of the terrible tempered Mr. Childress from my older cousin who had him four years before. I worked very, very hard in that class and never felt I got it quite together. I shook and lost my voice when called on to read aloud so he let Dorry Schultz, who had the same problem, and me read together one time. My mother was on a flight to California back in the late sixties with him and he spoke very fondly of me. That was a side I never saw.

I went to Latin conventions with Mr. Childress driving the bus. That was an experience. I remember the brakes were going out when we got to the Austin hills. He was gunning up the hills and downshifting down them to slow us and I thought we were all going to be killed.

I must say my Latin helped me in many ways later. I could never convince my kids to take a "dead" language and they later have realized it would have been helpful.

Mr. Wedgeworth was the other "thorn". I struggled with that class like no other. Math had always been easy for me and I had understood it. If you didn't prove the problem exactly the way he put it on the board it was "wrong" which wasn't right. I talked my folks into getting me out of the class but the day my mother went and talked with the counselor it was decided I could do it. By then I think the class was down to about 12 students. With the help of my dad and Val Comeaux helping me at the bus stop every morning, I managed to get through.

I guess all the experiences were good for us but they sure weren't fun. Life is good and I'm sure glad I don't have to face either of those two gentlemen every morning.

Thanks Kay and all the contributors for keeping the e-mails coming. It is a much better thing to "face" every morning.

Martha McKean Wright

PS to Larry...I am not Catholic.