Former teacher welcomes alum to help celebrate her 90th

The only time I ever had to stay after school was in third grade. I suffered from poor penmanship and my teacher, Doris Wagner, was determined to improve my cursive ways.

I attributed my lack of ability to my being left-handed, which meant that my curled hand would smear my No. 2 pencil all over my paper. Even J.B. Nelson, who did substitute teaching after leaving the superintendent's office, found my writing offensive when he subbed for our class.

"Use your right hand," he shouted, as he rapped my left hand with his ruler. "We don't write with the left hand."

Little did he know.

While I was learning penmanship at Blaine Street School, Eleanor Oleson Smith was teaching the course at J.B. Nelson School.

"One of my former students commented on the fact that I had taught him penmanship," Smith said. "I must have been good at writing on the board because my handwriting isn't very good at all."

Smith worked for the Batavia school system from 1958 to 1978, teaching first and third grades.

"I especially liked the sciences," she said. "I remember how excited the kids would be to go on nature walks and talk about the different kinds of trees. They also liked looking for fossils in a gravel pit that was out in the school yard."

After the Russians launched Sputnik, the school district responded by trying to get more kids interested in new technology.

"Every student got a science kit that was filled with magnets and batteries," she said. "The boys especially liked making the light bulb light by crossing some wires."

She had enjoyed the sciences when she was a student and she liked geography.

"Alice Gustafson was one of the few teachers who really taught geography," she said. "I had her for fifth grade at Louise White and the continent that we studied was South America. We learned all about the Amazon and the rain forest. I still remember it today."

With her inquisitive mind and her willingness to help others, it was no wonder that Smith became a teacher. She graduated from Batavia High School and won a scholarship to Northern.

To make extra money, she worked at the quarry, in the checkroom and in the concession stand.

She returned to the quarry during her teaching years, teaching her students about the quarry stone that was used for many of Batavia's homes and buildings. She showed them the wall that her father built for a Works Progress Administration project and told them how her father, a small man, carried the heavy rocks, one by one.

Smith saw many social changes occur during her time at J.B. Nelson School, as well. Many moms went to work and more families went through divorce.

"It was always a delight to have one or two dedicated moms who came to help each year," she said. "They would give the extra attention that some students needed in math or reading."

It doesn't matter what era you teach in, good teachers all have the same characteristics, Smith said.

"They have an enthusiasm for the classroom and a desire to see their students succeed," she said. "Each child comes to us with great potential and you just hope that they continue developing through out their school years. "

Nowadays, Smith has only memories of those days as a teacher. She often looks through the pages of the scrapbook that was given to her when she was nominated for teacher of the year. She wonders what became of those children she lovingly taught so many years ago.

She is inviting friends and former students and their families to come to the Community Center at Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles from 1 to 4 p.m. March 22 to help celebrate her 90th birthday.

"I'd really like to renew old acquaintances and find out what my kids have been doing since leaving my classroom," she said.

Mark your calendar now to attend. No perfectly penned, hand-written R.S.V.P. required.