Teachers are often and usually, besides being educators and leaders, parents in their communities. They have a keen interest in the welfare of children and look forward to going to work each day to ignite their students’ intellectual fires- and keep them stoked. They hope to build lifelong learners and readers.
Teachers and librarians do lots with very little. They bring new ideas to the classroom and develop innovative programs that help students learn. They are models of focus and determination- and from up close observation: stamina. Teachers are the world’s great collaborators as they build lesson plans, seek one another’s counsel and develop fresh ideas in a traditional framework.
My mother was a librarian, so I have an affinity and love for teachers and librarians and the brilliant folks who work with children in schools. I see their passion and commitment- and it’s no accident- whether New York City or Virginia or Ohio or Illinois or California- and I could keep going here- our nation’s great talents are found in education. I try to spend as much time as possible with children- as the old saying goes, you get so much more out of the experience than you can ever give them. I especially look forward to school visits with the Origin Project and make classroom visits a regular part of my work as an author. Wherever I go, I am amazed at the talent, determination and ambition of our teachers and their students.
It was my brilliant teachers and librarians who pushed me to my highest abilities. I remember Ernestine Roller from Big Stone Gap Elementary School. I studied her. She was petite, a beauty and wore beautiful dresses (you can see one I remember in the photograph below). That was back in the 70’s when pilgrim collars and prints were big- long before Roger Vivier dreamed of putting a brass buckle on a square-toed loafer. Mrs. Roller engaged with students and suggested books she thought would hook us on reading. She introduced me to National Velvet, Black Beauty and Misty of Chincoteague. I had never been on a horse, but it didn’t matter- it was all about the story- and somehow she knew that I would enjoy them. Mrs. Roller decorated the library- there were bulletin boards festooned with crepe paper and book jackets she had traced and trimmed in lace and buttons. Mrs. Roller made her library beautiful for her students.
I appeal to you, this Labor Day, to thank your teachers. Even if you are long out of school, like me, or your have children in school presently, please let your child’s teacher know what it means to you to entrust your child’s intellect and well-being to them- gratitude has a way of spreading and making the world a little less fraught and a lot more bearable. It’s the gift we can give without tying a bow on it- and it’s so much more precious than anything we could ever put in a box- it’s a way of letting a teacher know that they matter- that their hard work is appreciated- and that you cherish the peace of mind you have when your child is in their care in the classroom.
I was inspired to share this recipe today since it’s the perfect back-to-school treat. There’s nothing like dropping off something special for your favorite principal, teacher, librarian or crossing guard. Enjoy it this Labor Day!
Blueberry Yogurt Bundt Cake
Ingredients
5 large eggs
1 cup of plain yogurt
2 tsp. Vanilla extract
1 tsp. Lemon extract
1 ½ cups of sugar
½ cup chopped walnuts
2 tsp. Baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 cups all purpose flour
3 cups fresh blueberries
½ cup vegetable oil
½ stick of sweet butter
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bundt pan and set aside.
Beat the eggs, vanilla and lemon extract and 1 ½ cup of sugar in a mixing bowl. Whisk in the oil, baking powder, salt and flour until the batter is smooth. Don’t stop whisking until the batter has no lumps!
Gently toss in the walnuts and fold them through the batter.
Add the blueberries, but don’t break them up before quickly transferring the mixture into the bundt pan.
Sprinkle extra sugar on top of the batter and bake for 70 minutes or until the cake is golden brown. Let it cool, place the cake on a platter.
Melt the butter on the stove. Prick tiny holes in the top of the cake with a skewer, pushing the skewer into the cake without breaking up the surface. Pour the melted butter over the top of the cake.
Deliver the cake to your favorite teacher!
Thank you so much for these words. I can never, ever say Thank You enough to the teachers and librarians in my life who instilled a love of reading, writing and learning in me. I am out of school over 50 years now (how is that even possible) but I still remember all of my teachers and the Philadelphia Library where I spent so much time...especially in the summers. Teachers deserve all of the gratitude and praise we can give them. They give so much of themselves day in and day out in order to make the life of a child safe and meaningful. Sending love to any teachers and librarians who may be reading this. Thank You!