Introduction
Thirty years—a span that, when spoken aloud, seems to stretch endlessly across the landscape of my life. For those who have dedicated themselves to teaching music, especially in West Plains, time is not simply counted in years. It is counted in the friendships formed with both adults and children. I fondly remember the older teachers I admired, those from an earlier generation who always welcomed questions from their colleagues. Teaching is truly about planting seeds and watching them grow. Over time, several of my students have become music teachers. One of my favorite students now directs a large church choir. Others have taken different paths. Some became principals and doctors. Most recently, one was named chancellor of the Missouri State University Campus at West Plains.
Early Teaching Years: Four Schools, Endless Lessons
I began my career as a first-year teacher with optimism. I had a strong belief in public education. Yet, I also had a realistic understanding that I had no idea what I was doing. My first assignment was to help register fifth- and sixth-grade students at Central School. The speech teacher even mistook me for a sixth grader waiting to enroll. That year was marked by many challenges, including teaching boys who would later end up in jail. First graders marched down the hallway to my music room. Little wooden chairs and a small record player set the stage.
My first task was to find songs for Bus Safety Day. It coincided with Columbus Day. I also needed songs for Fire Prevention Week, Halloween, Easter, and Thanksgiving. The Christmas Program was the most significant production. It featured a religious scene in the first half with a depiction of the baby Jesus. Santa Claus appeared in the second half. First-grade children wore freshly pressed white collars. The head teacher assured me that parents would love anything their children did. She was right—joy and happiness were abundant.
The second-grade students attended Foster School, where the theme was “The Friendly Beast.” Each of the five classes had a special role in the nighttime concert. The event attracted over a hundred parents to the gym. Foster School’s traditions included the maypole dance and an annual kite-flying day. One memorable afternoon, we searched for a lost kite. A donkey suddenly emerged from a small white house and chased us. This added excitement to the day.
The older students attended Central School, a former high school with a large gym located in a detached building. I shared the fifth and sixth graders with Ms. Carter, the Physical Education teacher. Many of those students have since retired. They still remember the massive Christmas Party I hosted at my home on Grace Ave. To motivate them for their Christmas Program, I promised a party. I never expected 150 kids to attend. It became the best party in town. The P.E. teacher and I arranged for the Coke company to supply a soda machine, and snacks were quickly devoured. We invited the more experienced teachers, but they simply laughed. The enormous yellow house I lived in, owned by the town banker, was the perfect location. Back then, West Plains had no apartments or stoplights. The Walmart on Porter Waggoner Ave was only the tenth to be built. The party was filled with games and dancing. West Plains is remembered for the dance hall explosion in 1928. Nonetheless, I will always treasure the Christmas party of 1974.
The New School Building: A New Era
After five attempts, voters finally approved the construction of a new elementary school building in 1988. Reese, Foster, and Carmical Schools were merged to create a central location for over 700 students in the R-7 district. Each of the original buildings was very old. At Carmical, music class was held in the basement. There, the smell of burning wiring from the furnace once filled the air. Having the opportunity to recommend plans for a new music room was thrilling. The new facility included two music rooms and a large closet for instrument storage. Mrs. Lovelace and I shared a heating and air conditioning unit. This situation sometimes caused issues. The control was used only in the mornings. Although many individual school traditions were lost in the consolidation, the advantages outweighed the disadvantages. Now, almost forty years later, West Plains’ new school stands as a symbol of community progress.
Lessons Beyond the Curriculum
As the curriculum evolved, the techniques and tools we used also changed. We moved from record players to reel-to-reel tape players. Finally, we transitioned to CDs. Still, the underlying principles remained unchanged. The most meaningful lessons often arose not from planned instruction, but from the everyday challenges we faced. I relied on a curriculum called Education Through Music. It was based on folk songs and experiential games. This approach was developed by Mary Helen Richards over fifty years ago. It aimed to offer a higher-quality music education for all children. This method began with song experience games before progressing to musical notation.
I discovered that every student brought a unique personality to the classroom. Some arrived with great enthusiasm, while others needed encouragement. My role was to help each child find joy in music class. Teaching, I realized, was also about learning—reading emotional cues, adapting approaches, and celebrating diversity.
Fourth Grade Choir: A Source of Joy
Working with the popular fourth-grade select choir is one of my fondest memories. The 75-member choir performed at assemblies, P.T.A. meetings, took field trips, and enjoyed parties together. During Christmas, we sang at banks and nursing homes, sometimes wearing red bandannas, blue Oxford shirts, or special T-shirts. We met after school once a week for thirty minutes, forming lasting bonds and memories.
Memorable Moments and Lasting Connections
Nearly fifty years ago, we performed “Let George Do It.” This was a musical put on by fifth and sixth graders at Carmical School. It was for the 1976 bicentennial celebration. It was fitting for the 200th birthday of the United States. One song, “G-E-O-R-G-E Washington,” featured the lyrics: “First in War, first in Peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen. Let George do it; he is the man of the hour.” The students sang out George Washington’s name, letter by letter. Parents made beautiful costumes, and Bonny Webb’s class created a massive stage backdrop. The performances were so popular that we held two nights of concerts to accommodate the crowds. I consider this production the highlight of my thirty years of teaching.
Challenges and Growth
No thirty-year journey is without challenges. There were periods of self-doubt when I questioned my effectiveness as a teacher. I was not the best piano player or singer. But, my students left my class with a love for singing. Many continued music in middle and high school. Deciding to retire was bittersweet; I wanted to go while still passionate about teaching.
Looking Ahead
The world keeps changing, and so does music education. Music textbooks will eventually disappear, but nothing will ever replace the folk tunes and games we enjoyed. I have one piece of advice for new music educators. Listen deeply—not only to music, but to the hearts and stories of your students. Each lesson, practice session, and performance is a chance to shape not just musicians, but well-rounded human beings.
Conclusion
Thirty years have passed, and I am not the same person who first stepped into the classroom. I have been shaped by music.
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