Smurthwaite, Margaret Eleanor (Heywood) (1895-1992) Unforgettable Teacher

(Mother of the contributor, Richard N. Heywood)

Margaret Heywood With Students at Mesa High School
About 1952

My Most Unforgettable Teacher (1)

     She stands erect behind her podium with an air of sophistication all her own. From the tips of her toes to the top strand of her silvery hair-do comes a look of having just been introduced to the President of the United States. All five-feet-two inches (2) of her stands with stability beyond comparison. She relays to her audience the pertinent message, “I’m boss of this class; don’t anyone tread on me!”

     Her horned-rimmed glasses and proud chin emit the look of a confident character not to be tampered with; however, her sparkling eyes and dimpled cheeks counteract this impression with the certainty of her wanting to have fun too.

     Upon entering her room, you feel a sense of gaiety bubbling throughout. You promptly sit down and immediately become fixed upon her presence at the head of the class, busily trying to collect her thoughts and material to execute the proceeding of another class period. She quickly takes the roll with the assistance of her pupils, who by this time have entered into jovial conversation with each other as if they hadn’t seen each other for days and wouldn’t see each other again for days to come.

     With the roll business dispatched, she straightens herself to her full height with a severe yet characteristic utterance, “Students, come to school.” You quickly stop your talking and settle down with her to the studies at hand. You are quickly brought into the atmosphere of your subject by her complete, short summarization of the previous day’s activities. She then delves into the day’s discussion with all her soul. She becomes so enraptured with her subject that you can’t help but break loose from the cares of the day and travel with her into the world of English Literature. You sit back and marvel, for her years are added-upon; and you wonder how she ever does it. It is then you realize that she is your most UNFORGETTABLE TEACHER.

     All too soon the bell, with a clang of rudeness, breaks into the class and announces that the period is over. You gather your books and reluctantly walk out of her class to her gentle announcement, “Class dismissed.”

1 Written about Margaret S. Heywood by Jared N. Huish as a student at Mesa High School (Class of 1961), Mesa, Arizona. Published with his permission. 
2 She was actually 5 feet in height.