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When Ignorance Is Bliss

Lawrence King
Every one of us can remember that special teacher who made a difference in our lives because he or she connected with us , in just the right way . Mine was Mrs . Aldous , my Grade 4 homeroom teacher at Queens Park Elementary School . She was special because she made me feel important , inspired me to learn with her patience , was loving and caring , and understood this little boy who was a year younger and less mature than the rest of the class .
In the mid 1950s , all elementary schools in Calgary were invited to enter their Grade 4 classes in a music festival for the chance to win prizes and certificates of recognition . The Calgary Board of Education Supervisor of Music , Mr . Cyril Mossop , picked the song , which in 1954 was “ Little John , Bottle John .”
I have never been able to sing or carry a tune properly , as I ’ ve been told I ’ m tone deaf . After several days of practice , Mrs . Aldous came to me in private and said , “ Lawrence , I ’ ve chosen you for a very special job , and I don ’ t want you to tell anyone else . I want you to be my professional listener . I will put you in the middle of the back row and I just want you to mouth the words of the song and listen for anyone else in the class that is singing off tune .” Boy , was I excited and felt very important with my new responsibility . After the next round of practice , she took me aside and said , “ Did you hear anyone off tune ?” I said , “ Yes , I think so and it was in front of me and over in that corner .” She said , “ Good for you because I heard it too .”
I remember running home that day and telling my parents how special I was because of the important job Mrs . Aldous
had given me ! It wasn ’ t until years later that I realized how wonderful and caring Mrs . Aldous had been for protecting the feelings of a little boy and , consequently , developing his self-esteem .
Now for the rest of the story !
Forty years later , I ’ m the assistant principal at James Fowler High School in Calgary , which is just down the street from Queens Park Elementary School . They are celebrating their fiftieth anniversary with an afternoon tea party with former students and staff invited back . One of the retired teachers there is my special one : Mrs . Aldous . I introduce myself and tell her my story . She smiles , gives me a hug , takes my hand , and says , “ Lawrence , I used that technique my entire teaching career , as all of my students were special .” Thankfully , I was one of them !
Ever an educator , after thirty-five years with the Calgary
Board of Education ,
Lawrence King is currently Director of Education for the Chaparral Community Association in Calgary .
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