On était les 'pionniers' de Charlebois: the first group of grade nine students to eventually graduate from this beautiful, new, state of the art, francophone high school in Ottawa. Many students went through the doors of that building, many friendships were found and lost, and many memories were born. The school is now closed, but like everyone, it left me with many fond memories. Although there were many caring teachers at Charlebois, the one that had the biggest impact on my life was Mr Bernard. The Guru. Mr Bernard was my grade 12 and grade 13 English Teacher. Sadly, The Guru doesn't know it but he changed my life.
As a teenager, I was incredibly shy and would never lift my hand up in class for fear of making a mistake. I daydreamed constantly and was unable to focus in class. I couldn't do my homework because I hadn't paid attention in class, and I couldn't organize longer assigments so I could have them finished by the due date. Math was the worst, every year I got a phone call from my Math teacher telling me that I had gotten a mark of 40 something, but they would bump it up to 50 so I could pass the course.
That all changed for me in grade 12 when I was assigned to Mr Bernard's English class. One of our first assignents was to write a short story. I can't tell what I wrote about because I don't remember. What was important, however, was the impact that that story had on my life.
I remember the day the assignments were handed back to the class. Mr Bernard hung on to my mine and asked me to stay after class for a few minutes. When everyone had left, he called me up to the front of the class and told me I couldn't possibly have written the story. The quality of the writing was too good, I was to go home, redo the assignment and hand it in the next day.
It wasn't the first time I had been accused of submitting something I hadn't written, though I'm not sure why. I have never forged anything in my life. I could only assume it was because I presented as a student who didn't have much potential. So I went home and did what I had done before. I redid the assignment and handed it in without telling my parents. I didn't want them to be disappointed in me.
Mr Bernard caught me in the hall the next day and asked to speak to me. He handed me back my story, along with an apology. He had been wrong. I looked at my work and realized he had given me 100% as a mark. A+. That's when it all changed. From then on, I poured my heart and soul into all my English assignments. I became the only student in my day to be christened by The Guru with my own nickname: "Trash". Although I'm not sure I would like it now, I knew at the time it was an honour and I cherished it. I continued to get A+ throughout the next two years of High School. At graduation, I was recognized as the student who was "Most Likely to Write the Great Canadian Novel". This teacher had seen a creative talent in me I didn't know I had, he encouraged me, and he inspired me. I eventually became a teacher myself, a Special Education Teacher and then a Vice Principal. I have just established a partnership and will be writing my first book. It's not a novel, but a book of strategies for kids with ADD.
What I did not realize at the time was that I actually had a learning disability. Diagnosed with ADD as an adult, I now finally understand why I couldn't be successful in school. If I were going through the Education System now, I would likely be identified as being Gifted and Learning Disabled. Most ironically, IQ testing has revealed that my aptitude are the highest in Mathematics, with a score of 147. Yet I was "passed along" in school so I wouldn't have to take the course over again.
Mr Bernard may never know the impact he has had on my life. However, it is not the positive influence on my writing and on my self esteem that is the greatest gift he has given me. What made him stand out as a teacher was that The Guru did not see all the trees as being the same. There was a tree in the forest that he knew needed special care, special pruning. He could just as easily have chopped it down, instead he gave it the special care that it needed. What he has passed on is the desire to look through the forest to find the tree. All trees are different and some trees need extra special care to grow tall and beautiful. This is the basic idea that drives me in my work in Special Education. To find the skill in my students, to nurture them, to believe in them and to lead them to believe in themselves.
Although I may never see you again, Mr Bernard, I hope that you know that I am grateful for this gift. It is the gift that keeps giving. Pay it forward. Yet the night is still young, Mr Bernard, I might still get to that "Great Canadian Novel".
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Robert Frost, 1923Photo was taken in August 2008 at Ritchie Falls, near Haliburton, Ontario.
