Many years ago at the end of the year when I did the usual Rite of Passage celebration with my top class, I was madly doing my part cleaning up afterwards when I heard a single voice from the crowd of students and parents gathered at this rather profound thing we do and later top off with a rafting trip. " Captain my Captain". It was repeated by another voice and the crowd had become very quiet. I turned to see two students on top of the cafeteria tables ( we usually do it in the woods around a campfire but that night we got rained out). One by one each of the class rose to the table tops and recited the entire poem to me. I was deeply,deeply moved, and even more so when the first student in my new class in the fall walked into the room and addressed me as Captain.
But ever since then, at school, I have been known as the Captain. It was just passed on from class to class. ( Just to explain Kim's comment on my blog.) I had almost forgotten in just one year out of school.
- I love you all
Cap'n
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5 comments:
That brought me tears of happiness when you first told me about it and it still does. What a meaningful and touching thing!
Hugs!!
:-))
This has added so much more to my mental image of you.
Berry here certainly is "Cap'n" to all of us former - students. The great thing about you, Berry, is that you're even better as a friend than a teacher (hard to believe it's true, but I've come to find it so). While my time in your classroom (though interrupted by my thinking you hated me at first, and then trying to decide whether or not I could tough your class out)was genuinely life changing, it was our little afterclass chats about the future, teacherhood, numerology and life (to be quite nonspecific) that made me realize what a gem you are. Thanks for taking the time, both then and now, for being a part of my life.
Mr. Berry, I came across this by accident when I was looking through a "people you might know" thing on blogger. I was in your class back in...oh dear, it's been almost 5 years now. 2003-2004. And I remember memorizing this poem, and for some reason it always reminded me of you. So when I read this, I was so happy. I hope you're well, Cap'n, and it's nice to see stuff from you again. *salutes*
Sincerely,
Britney Mitchell
AKA: "Teacup" :-)
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