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"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge,
That myth is more potent than history;
That dreams are more powerful than facts;
That hope always triumphs over experience;
That laughter is a cure for grief;
And I believe that love is stronger than death."

This is the Storyteller's Creed, but has meaning enough to encompass all who will listen.

One of the most enjoyable parts of my profession has been "hooking" students with a great book or a storytelling session. Even before moving from the classroom into the media center, reading good children's literature was an important part of my day. I sent this picture to a friend of mine and he asked me what I was threatening these children with - a rolled up newspaper? Rest assured this is a book and the picture was not posed, the attention is real and the story was GREAT!


My teaching career began in 1968 in a small school in West Las Vegas, New Mexico. It was here that I learned the true meaning of what it meant to be a teacher and also the true meaning of discrimination. As a WASP, brought up in New Hampshire, I had pretty well managed to escape any form of discriminatory behavior. But, in West Las Vegas, I was the token "Anglo" teacher and my best friend for the two years I worked there was the token black teacher. All other teachers on staff were of Spanish descent and seemed to resent our intrusion into their school. It's a good thing that we really liked each other, since no one else in the school would have anything to do with us.

It was not an auspicious beginning for a first year teacher and didn't at all resemble my dream of being a teacher of the highest order. As I recall, I cried every night for the first year. But, as in all future positions that I would hold, the CHILDREN were the saving grace. My students were wonderful and "proud" to have a "gringa" as their teacher - as a matter of fact, that is how they would introduce me to other students on the playground. They would laugh at my attempts to speak Spanish and then try to help me. It was an experience - not one I would want to repeat - but which enabled me to become a more tolerant and understanding person.


Please go visit "a good library woman."You will love it!.

Visit my school web site.

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