The good teacher

One who makes a lasting impact on your life, one who make you a better person

Let me tell you about Miss Hilda Nelson who was Headmistress of Mary Sheafe School For Girls where I studied in England. Miss Nelson was always dressed in a suit — matching jacket and skirt — accessorised by a string of pearls or sometimes a double strand. Pinned to her left lapel was a brooch. Short, silvery hair, a slim watch on her wrist, and gold-rimmed glasses perched on the sharpest nose I had seen till then gave her a stern look. The whole formal look was completed with shiny black stilettos. Miss Nelson was rarely seen without her yappy little dog Topaz. The words “Miss Nelson wants to see you”  would make us go cold with fear. Well, one day when I was in Form 1, I did hear these words. What had I done? I wondered.  I was such a quiet, good girl, did well in my studies and never broke the rules. What could I  possibly have done to be called for by Miss Nelson? I don’t know how I walked the distance from my classroom to her room, but I found myself standing in front of her. She smiled and in her clear, crisp voice said, “I would like you to read the passage for next Monday’s assembly.”