Teacher's Reward

Teacher's Reward

At Wagner High School I taught World History.

Each December, homerooms competed

for the honor of the best holiday decorations.

The class worked hard, I gave advice,

but left all the work to them.

I would be away at a teachers' meeting

during the critical last days and during

the judging by art teachers from several schools.

Back from the meeting I was happy to find

that the class had won first place.

As it happened, in January I would stop

teaching the class. I was assigned

to be Assistant Principal at another school.

My last day with the class arrived.

My fantastic twenty nine scholars

were bubbling with excitement.

They had a surprise. When the class

had all come in, one of the kids

stood up, the class had something to say.

I was presented with a silver mug, engraved

with “Homeroom 1968 to Mr. D.”. They had received

ten dollars as the prize winner of the room decorating

contest. They bought the mug, and explained

ten dollars wasn't enough to inscribe my whole name.

I have the mug still after all these years.

It is among my most valued possession.

"a silver mug"