Lee Note 79 More Latin and Math Memories July 8, 2001

From Larry Russell:

Kay, I didn't take Latin but I have sung in Latin on a few occasions. I also have sung in French, Italian and German. But the crux of what I want to say is about math. I took Algebra I at Cedar Bayou Jr. Hi and was a C student for 3 nine weeks periods. The last nine weeks I buckled down and made an A.

Upon coming to Robert E. Lee I had a 100 average in Algebra II. Unlike some of the other students, I had a teacher who didn't care how you got the answer as long as it was right. I would sit in class and read the board and before she was through showing us the new way, I had figured out a quicker----better way to do it on my own.

It must have worked because I had a 100 average! However, when I took Plane Geometry under Miss Robson, I was working at Kinney's Shoes afternoons and on Saturdays and doing my church music on Sunday (EXCUSES!) AND so I flunked Plane Geometry and never even signed up for advanced mathematics.

I don't think I was ever scared of any of my teachers. I loved school and learning. It was a great time to be alive and living in Baytown, Texas.

I did have one problem with Mrs. Huckabee (I believe her name was) because she counted off on one of my short stories I had written when I said "I went to post a letter." She said "Posts go in the ground and have nothing to do with letters." I guess she'll have some explaining to do one of these days maybe even to the POST office people. Just a thought!

Larry Russell

From Geri Tarver:

Childress and Wedgeworth

I can't believe I can even "say" the two in the same breath. My sentiments about Mr. Childress are about the same as others I have heard.

What I remember most about Mr. Wedgeworth was that he was a "slow learner." EVERY time I was absent he sent my name in with the boys to the boys dean, so when I returned to school I would have to make a trip to the boys dean to get in straightened out. I guess because he always wrote my name down as Gerald Dean, YUK! Sorry boys, but it just doesn't suit me. Ha!

My thanks added to all the many others to Kay for keeping this correspondence going. These 40 year old memories are unbelievable!

Geri (GERALDINE) Tarver Hodges