Gleaning Facebook: Remembering Mary House

Facebook nudges my memories each morning by suggesting a re-post, sometimes nowadays from a decade ago. These pictures are actually from about fifty years ago.

My two years in the National Teacher Corps, 1969-1971, gave me some great experiences and brought some interesting people into my life. Mary House, artist and teacher at Poca High School in WV (Go Poca Dots!) was one of those unforgettable people. Ornery, opinionated, and a heart of gold.

She has died in the decade since I posted these pictures.

I have talked with Charles Yates within the last year or so, he's got some health issues and lives in a retirement facility.

I have not heard from Cynthia Weaver since about 1972 or so.

That post resulted in two new Facebook friends. Clayton Hensley, the little nephew of Mary seen in these pictures, somehow found it and we connected. He grew up to become a communications-news producer-guy who has taken those skills into a job as communications director for First United Methodist Church in Maryville TN. And Mary's sister Lois Gilbert is a musician and folk music enthusiast who I have now 'met' via Facebook and even had a nice phone call (while Sheila and I drove through Tennessee) once to discuss our shared musical interests.

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Mary House

The baby is Mary's nephew, Clayton Hensley. Holding him is Teacher Corps intern Cynthia Weaver. The guy may be Charles Yates [later info: likely not Charles but Clayton's father], another Teacher Corps intern. I don't know who's on the phone. 

Clayton Hensley

Comments

Terrell Shaw Mary House was a teacher in Putnam Co WV schools who befriended the Teacher Corps interns at Liberty Elementary School in 1970-71.

Becky Majors Asbury Mary House also was a teacher at Poca High School for many years. She was one of my favorite teachers in high school.

Ruth Baird Shaw Terry...The middle picure looks like Janice holding the baby. I have njoyed seeing some of the old photos wyou are bringing out!

Clayton Hensley I'm not sure, but it looks like my Dad is the one holding the phone in th picture. Certainly looks like him, but not clear enough to tell. Since I was only a year old in the pix, can't say I remember.

Terrell Shaw I'm sure you are right, Clayton. You Dad only slightly resembles Charles.

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Mary's Obituary on the Kiser -Rose Hill Funeral Home

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Mary E. House, 81, of Midway Circle, Midway, passed away Sunday, December 29, 2013, at her home.

She was a retired teacher from Putnam County School System in West Virginia.

Mary was a member of Unitarian Church and was a member of the National Teachers Association; West Virginia Teachers Association and Putnam County Mental Health Board.

Survivors include a sister: Lois Gilbert of Midway; a nephew: Clayton Hensley of Clinton, TN; niece: Rachel Hensley of Midway; great nieces and nephews: Hazel Hensley, Will Hensley, and Emerson Hensley; several special cousins; special K-9 friend: Charlie.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Bolton Movious House and Thresa Lois Ranson House.

A memorial service will be held at 2 pm Saturday, Janurary 4, 2013, in the Kiser-Rose Hill Chapel with Rev. Faith Ramer officiating. Interment will be later at Emma Chapel Cemetery, in Liberty, WV.

The family will receive friends from 12-2 pm Saturday preceding the memorial service.

Online condolences may be sent to the House family at www.kiserrosehillfuneralhome.com.

An Off-the-cuff Serial Autobiography (An Episode of 1969)

Spare the Rod, Ichabod Shaw -- 1969

As a beginning teacher in 1969 I was philosophically opposed to corporal punishment, even though it was routinely used in almost all southern schools. I explained my hesitation to use such a brutal method of classroom management to my good friend, Mike, who was teaching in an inner city school. Mike scoffed at my high and mighty attitude.

“You’ll spank,” he declared, “Wait till a few spit wads whiz past your noggin. And when you do, let me explain how to do it.”

He proceeded to describe how to administer one very hard whack to the buttocks in a way definitely memorable to the spankee, but not likely to cause bruising or lasting injury.

A few weeks later the teaching principal, Mr. Smith, called me in to watch his class for the afternoon while he attended a meeting at the central office. He stood me before his 35 coalmine town seventh graders, several a head or more taller and pounds heavier than me.

“This is Mr. Shaw, your substitute teacher. Mr. Shaw will not hesitate to use the Black Dragon,” he proclaimed as he pulled a two foot long paddle made of oak and wrapped in black electrical tape out of a drawer and laid it on the desk, “so you had best behave!”

As Mr. Smith left the building the spit wads began to fly. Another thirty minutes and philosophy gave way to reality. I waved the Black Dragon in desperation and picked my victim from the many candidates.

“Rocky, come with me to the cloakroom,” I growled at the biggest, meanest boy in the school. I hoped the class would not notice my hands quaking as I followed him out of the classroom.
“Empty your back pockets and put your hands on the wall.”

Rocky did as he was told - with a bit of a smirk on his face. Following Mike’s instructions I swung the Dragon in an upward arc and whacked the fleshiest section of the boy’s hind parts once only.

It may have only been my ears, but the report of that paddle rivaled any gun I’d heard. I was convinced every human ear within a mile had heard it. I was sure my career was over before it could really begin. Surely someone would call the cops. I felt tears welling in my own eyes, but managed to choke out a fairly even, “Rocky, I hope you have learned your lesson. Now go have a seat.”

To my astonishment Rocky answered meekly, “Yes, Sir.” As he turned toward the classroom I saw big tears glistening in his eyes.

His classmates had heard the whack and they saw the tears.
All was changed. A pin drop in that classroom would have snapped every head to attention. Lessons proceeded with quiet earnestness.

That was the only paddling I administered that year. Rocky did not seem hurt physically or emotionally, and in fact, changed his ways. He even joined and took a leadership role in the boys’ club I organized in the community as part of my Teacher Corps duties.

Paddlings had some advantages. They did stop bad behavior, at least temporarily. Paddlings were over quickly and lessons could go forward without the drawn-out sermonizing by the teacher and extended pouting by the student that often accompany the “time-outs”, school “discipline forms”, “in-school suspension”, etc. of today.

We no longer paddle students in our schools: that is good. But I am convinced that a paddling was needed that day in 1969. I don't regret it.

At Mary House's House 1970

Charlie Yates, Cynthia Weaver, and I visited in Mary House's home near Liberty, WV fairly early in the 1970-71 school year, I think. The attached date is approximate.

Mary House, a teacher at Poca High School in Putnam County, WV. Mary is a friend of the Teacher Corps interns at Liberty School and our "regular" teacher friend, Arvel (sp) ??. If Mary ever writes a book she should pay me for this book jacket pic.

Clayton Hensley

The baby is Mary's nephew, Clayton Hensley. Holding him is Teacher Corps intern Cynthia Weaver. The guy is Charles Yates, another Teacher Corps intern. I don't know who's on the phone.

Cynthia Weaver, Mary House, Clayton Hensley