An open love letter to my high school English teacher

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 26, 2008 6:44 pm

Last night at 8:01, the world's best English teacher made the transition from a worldly classroom to one in heaven. For hundreds of Winnsboro High School graduates, Gladys Burkham left a positive, profound and prolonged mark on our lives. We shall not see her likes again.

Last week, when I found out her health was failing, I wrote a letter to her ...

July 10, 2008

Dear Miss Burkham:

Since the fall of 1968, you have been a huge presence in my life. Rarely does a day go by that I don’t think of you and say a prayer of thanks for having been one of your students.

I don’t know if I ever told you this, but when I was a freshman at the University of Texas at Arlington, my English professor asked me to stay after class about three weeks after the semester began. I was puzzled, as I was making A’s on all my papers.

He asked me, “Where are you from?”

“A small town in East Texas,” I said. “You’ve probably never heard of it.”

“Where,” he asked again.

“Winnsboro,” I answered.

“You had Gladys Burkham as your teacher, didn’t you?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Here’s the syllabus,” he said. “You don’t need to come to class anymore. Just turn in the papers when they’re due. There’s nothing more I can teach you.”

For the past year and a half, I’ve been the Art Editor for the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram. This year, the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors gave me first place in the comment and criticism division. I would have never won the honor without you.

Every time I sit down to write a story, I call upon the lessons you taught me and pray my efforts would meet your approval.

Because of you, I can pick up a Readers’ Digest and correctly define all 20 of the vocabulary words. I still have the box of 1,000 vocabulary cards you made us learn on my desk at work.

Your influence on my life and the lives of all your students was far-reaching. We owe you.

God bless and keep you in the palm of his hand.

Respectfully,

Terry Hamilton Mathews
Class of 1969

flyboy55 · Post by **flyboy55** » July 26, 2008 7:15 pm

A moving tribute. She must have been very special.

I don't think teachers get the respect they deserve.

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » July 26, 2008 7:21 pm

Very nice tribute Terry.

dnw · Post by **dnw** » July 26, 2008 7:23 pm

flyboy55 wrote:A moving tribute. She must have been very special.

I don't think teachers get the respect they deserve.

ditto

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » July 26, 2008 7:50 pm

Sail on, Miss Burkham. The impact you made in this world will roll down through generations and echo in eternity.

((((((((((Terry))))))))))

((((((((((Gladys' family and many, many friends))))))))))

Post by **SMLCHNG** » July 26, 2008 8:23 pm

That is simply beautiful, and very moving, Terry.

How special she was to make such an impact on your life.

Elrod · Post by **Elrod** » July 26, 2008 8:28 pm

Sail on Miss Burkham...

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » July 26, 2008 8:50 pm

I can say with conviction that you have made her proud, Terry. What more can any teacher ask for?

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » July 26, 2008 8:57 pm

"Souls don't die"

Wheel Inside the Wheel

(((ETP)))

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » July 26, 2008 9:31 pm

Thanks, my phriends ... My hope is that, at the end, she remembered how much she was admired, respected .... and how very much she was loved by the hundreds of students she touched during her 40-year career.

I can't tell ya'll how sad I am at her passing .... earth's loss is heaven's gain.

I can just hear her now ... talking to Randy Pausch ...

"While I really do appreciate the strides you and your team made in the world of computer programming, Professor Pausch, I would like to know if you could diagram this sentence and then write down definitions for the words on this list. Oh, one more thing, tell me the three parts of a paragraph. Then, you can show me how to move around in your virtual world."

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » July 26, 2008 9:36 pm

East Texas Parrothead wrote:Thanks, my phriends ... My hope is that, at the end, she remembered how much she was admired, respected .... and how very much she was loved by the hundreds of students she touched during her 40-year career.

I can't tell ya'll how sad I am at her passing .... earth's loss is heaven's gain.

I can just hear her now ... talking to Randy Pausch ...

"While I really do appreciate the strides you and your team made in the world of computer programming, Professor Pausch, I would like to know if you could diagram this sentence and then write down definitions for the words on this list. Oh, one more thing, tell me the three parts of a paragraph. Then, you can show me how to move around in your virtual world."

I think my godfather's eyes just glazed over and he offered Miss Burkham and Professor Pausch a fresh draft Guinness.

GumboPirate · Post by **GumboPirate** » July 26, 2008 10:48 pm

Very nice tribute...sail on Miss Burkham...

Dezdmona · Post by **Dezdmona** » July 26, 2008 11:16 pm

That is beautiful Terry. What a lovely tribute for a wonderful woman.

Sail on Ms. Burkham, I know you'll have smooth seas and mild winds.

Bfan53 · Post by **Bfan53** » July 27, 2008 8:52 am

Wow.......an excellent letter. May Ms. Burkham rest in peace with the knowledge of her impact on students.

pair8head · Post by **pair8head** » July 27, 2008 9:03 am

What a wonderful tribute to what must be a wonderful teacher.

Sail on Ms. Burkham.

balcony girls · Post by **balcony girls** » July 27, 2008 9:06 am

. .what a very tender way to show your respect, Terry . . .

. . was it sent to her family. . ? ? . . . her local newspaper. . ? ?

. . and how proud she must be that she has created such a talent as yours. .

. .(((Terry and her special Angel))))))

C-Dawg · Post by **C-Dawg** » July 27, 2008 10:27 am

balcony girls wrote:. .what a very tender way to show your respect, Terry . . .

. . was it sent to her family. . ? ? . . . her local newspaper. . ? ?

. . and how proud she must be that she has created such a talent as yours. .

. .(((Terry and her special Angel))))))

I agree....if this was only sent to her, you owe it to her family and other past students to send it to the local paper.....I'm sure there are many others with similar feelings that can't express themselves as eliquently (sp) as you have.
Bravo Terry, that was beautiful....
Sail on Miss Burkham

ScarletB · Post by **ScarletB** » July 27, 2008 10:28 am

dnw wrote:
flyboy55 wrote:A moving tribute. She must have been very special.

I don't think teachers get the respect they deserve.

ditto

ditto x 2
It's a tough job, you couldn't PAY me enough to do it so I have immense respect for those who do

f2cdlzrd · Post by **f2cdlzrd** » July 27, 2008 10:41 am

As a high school teacher entering the 5th year of my career, I can only hope to have 1/2 the impact on my students' lives as Ms. Burkham did yours. Your tribute gave me cold chills..

Sail on....

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » July 27, 2008 10:55 am

that was an incredible letter. She sounds like one in a million.