It was with sadness that I learned of the passing last week of
Phyllis Thomas, and with fondness that I recalled my interactions
with her. Mrs. Thomas was my high school counselor, and in that
capacity she met with me on numerous occasions
– to review my course selections, provide advice, change my
schedule when I felt I had been misplaced in a class, make sure I
was signed up for the SAT test and knew of college application
deadlines and scholarship availability, and to write a letter of
recommendation to the University of Californ
ia, Berkeley.
It was with sadness that I learned of the passing last week of Phyllis Thomas, and with fondness that I recalled my interactions with her. Mrs. Thomas was my high school counselor, and in that capacity she met with me on numerous occasions – to review my course selections, provide advice, change my schedule when I felt I had been misplaced in a class, make sure I was signed up for the SAT test and knew of college application deadlines and scholarship availability, and to write a letter of recommendation to the University of California, Berkeley.
It was only years later, after I had graduated and started teaching, that I learned she had attended Cal herself. Even then, the discussion was not about her but rather about her belief that it is important to give back to the community that has nurtured you, and about donating to one’s alma mater. (I guess she was still counseling; like teaching, it is a lifelong behavior.)
In fact, dedication to public schools is something which runs through the Thomas family. Her daughter, Cathy Goodere, is a teacher at Barrett Elementary School. Her son, George Thomas, Jr., has for years headed up the Live Oak Foundation, which raises money to fund all sorts of projects throughout the school district, and purchase supplies which teachers request and the schools cannot afford.
Her daughter-in-law, Shelle, serves on the school board, where she has been a tireless advocate for teachers, children and families. George’s and Shelle’s own children are grown, and they could easily turn their attentions elsewhere, but the family tradition of service seems to be holding firm.
My reminiscing has led me to ponder how schools have changed since I was a student at Live Oak and Mrs. Thomas was my counselor. In those days, Live Oak had 1,200 students and four full-time counselors. Today, the student-to-counselor ratio at each of our secondary schools is 700-to-1. True, computer systems simplify scheduling these days, but students are still people with very human problems and needs. In a caseload of 700, each one connected to a family, there are going to be more than a few serious situations with which students will need help.
I attended classes of 25 to 30 students. Today’s high school and middle school classes have as many as 36 students (except PE which tops out at 55). This means that the total student load for teachers then was 125 – 150 students; today it sits at 170 – 180 (275 for PE teachers).
The increasing class sizes, the reduction in counselors, the elimination of most school nurses and librarians, and cuts to groundskeepers, custodians and other staff are all the result, of course, of a steady downward spiral in education funding. More about that another day. Also gone are paid staff development days sprinkled throughout the year, which translated into days off for students.
We got out of school in mid-June and went back in mid-September (after the prunes were harvested). Summer vacation is shorter now – we go back in mid-August. I know it’s still an enviable vacation, but believe me when I tell you that it takes that long just to recover. During the school year, being a teacher is very nearly a 24-7 experience. I don’t go anywhere without a stack of papers to correct – not to the dentist, nor my daughter’s swim meets, nor to Thanksgiving weekend at the relatives’, nor anywhere up the freeway for fear that I’ll get a flat tire and waste an hour waiting for AAA.
I don’t mean to whine; I’m just saying … Although I was pretty upset at the lady at Starbucks (where I go to correct papers in peace), who referred to teaching as a “kickback job.” It really is more of a lifelong calling, as Mrs. Thomas knew.
By Jeanie Wallace
