Substitute Teachers

 

I spent my elementary school years at the Bigelow School located off West Fourth St. in Southie. I was there during the second World War in the 1940’s. The teachers were a dedicated group that did their best to educate a bunch of misbehaving preteens. Because many young people were off fighting the War or supporting the War effort our teachers were on the elderly side. It wasn’t unusual that they were absent part of the school term and as a result we had so called substitute teachers. They never actually taught. They were hired to maintain order. When the War was over we began to have younger substitutes and I have memory of two in particular.

The first was a soldier recently mustered out of the Army. He had served in Italy and before he left decided to visit Rome. He spent his time with us discussing the sites he had visited. A church with a magnificent altar and a soaring rotunda. A sculptor of Mary cradling her son. A chapel with beautiful paintings on the ceiling and walls. Ancient ruins of the Colloseum and central plaza. He went on for the entire period and I personally was engrossed in all that he offered. I knew then that was something I would have to see for myself. Fifty years later after I retired my Wife and I made it to Rome to take in all that he described. If you think Teachers don’t have influence on young minds, think again.

The second was a music teacher who came prepared with her sheets of music that was popular among the Union and Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Songs like “When Johnny Comes Marching Home, John Brown’s Body, Dixie, Battle Hymn of the Republic” etc. One song in particular stands out in my memory- Massas in the Cold Cold Ground. She led us in song by accompanying us on the piano. As I mentioned we were a mischievous bunch of 11 year olds so when it came to the chorus, without any previous class communication, yelled out as loud as we could muster “My Ass is in the Cold Cold Ground” Since there were multiple choruses to be sung there was no question of our intent. We waited for her reaction after the song ended. We got none. Turn to the next sheet please is what we heard. A truly dedicated teacher.