Don't talk about kids in front of David. He knows how to handle them in a snap. He was a teacher and librarian for 38 years.
It is no wonder that David has a booming voice. He can make a child sit up straight with just a whistle and even make them faint when he sneezes. No exaggeration with that. That is why old folks love him because they can hear him clearly. They don't have to check their hearing aid batteries.
The greatness of Mr. Smith, the teacher-librarian, is comparable to a multi-faceted diamond ring with emeralds surrounding it. Several times have I witnessed scenes that proved my claim. Of course people like David are rare. Our neighbor back home is a teacher who used to bring her students who were children of poor farmers in the mountain to her home. She'd promise the parents that she'd tutor the child only to find out that she'd make a slave out of the poor kid. Her eldest daughter who was living with them (left by her husband) used to drag her mother (the teacher) outside the house, grabbing her hair and cursing at her, "You stupid bitch. I'll kill you. I'll kill you." The teacher didn't fight back. Nobody wants to deal with the mother or daughter.
At a local festival here, while waiting for our turn to play for a prize organized by a telecommunications company, David recognized one of his former students. He called on him and asked the boy if he recognized him. The boy beamed, "Oh, Mr. Smith! The librarian!" And the little black boy hugged him. It was a wonderful scene.
Every now and then he gets greetings from his students.
Lately, David has been browsing through his files and found valuable items. They're not jewels or papers for a will but they can be considered treasures. Here's what I mean:
The Library Rap
The library is the place to be,
You'll see movies, like "Mr. T."
The place to learn, as you will see,
Is the Number 36 School Library.
If you think you can't find a good book,
The librarian is the one to help you look.
Clifford the dog is big and red,
Mother said, "Timmy, put him to bed."
Charlotte is a friendly spider - true,
In her web she wove messages to you.
King Midas touched things - they turned to gold,
Our heads are thing of stories - Mr. Smith told.
We have computers, encyclopedias and much, much more,
Come to the library and find what you are looking for.
Reading is fresh - it's not just for nerds,
Don't hang on the streets - that's just for birds.
Don't live your life in total frustration,
Come to the library and help your education.
Read a book with your educational mind,
So you, like Mr. Smith, can write a rhyme.
Just come to the library - take a good look,
I'm sure you will find just the right book.
Written by Jeffery Sillato when he was in Grade 4
David helped him with the rhyme. #36 School
Here's another:
The Place To Be
I was looking for a good book in the library
Didn't have no idea where the book could be
Mr. Smith said go look in the card catalog
It had everything from Dr. Seuss to Clifford the Dog
Took a look, found the book, had little more time
Used computers, saw a video, relaxed my mind
Give me a L.I.B.R.A.R.Y. anytime, any year, any day or night
Dr. Seuss, Mother goose even Little Boy Blue
Jet magazine and the Old Woman Who Lived In a Shoe
Computer disk, the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz
Books on buildings, people, trolls and Aztec Gods
General words, don't disturb on the library
Education, orchestration it's the place to be
Don't dismiss Mr. Smith he conducts the room
New books, clean magazines, books on man on the moon
No destruction, introduction over due return
Dr. King had a dream, read a book and learn
You want knowledge second floor it's the place to be
Feel the rage, read a page in the library.
Written by Matt McCrea who was in Mr. Smith's 4th grade at #22 School. This was written while Matt worked at #36 School as a teacher aid. He still respected Mr. Smith and the library.
It is no wonder that David has a booming voice. He can make a child sit up straight with just a whistle and even make them faint when he sneezes. No exaggeration with that. That is why old folks love him because they can hear him clearly. They don't have to check their hearing aid batteries.
The greatness of Mr. Smith, the teacher-librarian, is comparable to a multi-faceted diamond ring with emeralds surrounding it. Several times have I witnessed scenes that proved my claim. Of course people like David are rare. Our neighbor back home is a teacher who used to bring her students who were children of poor farmers in the mountain to her home. She'd promise the parents that she'd tutor the child only to find out that she'd make a slave out of the poor kid. Her eldest daughter who was living with them (left by her husband) used to drag her mother (the teacher) outside the house, grabbing her hair and cursing at her, "You stupid bitch. I'll kill you. I'll kill you." The teacher didn't fight back. Nobody wants to deal with the mother or daughter.
At a local festival here, while waiting for our turn to play for a prize organized by a telecommunications company, David recognized one of his former students. He called on him and asked the boy if he recognized him. The boy beamed, "Oh, Mr. Smith! The librarian!" And the little black boy hugged him. It was a wonderful scene.
Every now and then he gets greetings from his students.
Lately, David has been browsing through his files and found valuable items. They're not jewels or papers for a will but they can be considered treasures. Here's what I mean:
The Library Rap
The library is the place to be,
You'll see movies, like "Mr. T."
The place to learn, as you will see,
Is the Number 36 School Library.
If you think you can't find a good book,
The librarian is the one to help you look.
Clifford the dog is big and red,
Mother said, "Timmy, put him to bed."
Charlotte is a friendly spider - true,
In her web she wove messages to you.
King Midas touched things - they turned to gold,
Our heads are thing of stories - Mr. Smith told.
We have computers, encyclopedias and much, much more,
Come to the library and find what you are looking for.
Reading is fresh - it's not just for nerds,
Don't hang on the streets - that's just for birds.
Don't live your life in total frustration,
Come to the library and help your education.
Read a book with your educational mind,
So you, like Mr. Smith, can write a rhyme.
Just come to the library - take a good look,
I'm sure you will find just the right book.
Written by Jeffery Sillato when he was in Grade 4
David helped him with the rhyme. #36 School
Here's another:
The Place To Be
I was looking for a good book in the library
Didn't have no idea where the book could be
Mr. Smith said go look in the card catalog
It had everything from Dr. Seuss to Clifford the Dog
Took a look, found the book, had little more time
Used computers, saw a video, relaxed my mind
Give me a L.I.B.R.A.R.Y. anytime, any year, any day or night
Dr. Seuss, Mother goose even Little Boy Blue
Jet magazine and the Old Woman Who Lived In a Shoe
Computer disk, the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz
Books on buildings, people, trolls and Aztec Gods
General words, don't disturb on the library
Education, orchestration it's the place to be
Don't dismiss Mr. Smith he conducts the room
New books, clean magazines, books on man on the moon
No destruction, introduction over due return
Dr. King had a dream, read a book and learn
You want knowledge second floor it's the place to be
Feel the rage, read a page in the library.
Written by Matt McCrea who was in Mr. Smith's 4th grade at #22 School. This was written while Matt worked at #36 School as a teacher aid. He still respected Mr. Smith and the library.
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