Joan Shipman was a breath of fresh air to Oak Grove. She had a time each day that she set aside to just read stories to the students. It was during her year of teaching that Ina Golden and I decided to write (I don’t remember what we wrote) in red nail polish on the back of the girl’s outhouse. I believe I had to write 500 times “I will not write on school property.” Joan took us on nature walks and introduced many novel ideas, in her teaching. She was probably the reason I decided I wanted to be a teacher. She later taught music at Eugene High School where I attended, and there I had her for my music teacher.
It was from Oak Grove School that I did my first really daring adventure type thing in my life. My friend Esther Golden and I decided to get off the school bus on Deer Run road (at that time it did not have a name that I know of) and walk through the woods to her home and then she would ride me home on her bicycle. We were sure it would be just straight across. It took a lot longer than we expected and by the time I got home that evening, it was getting dark and I was met at the gate with a sound switching (which I knew I deserved) for causing so much worry.
Christina Rowland says
Shutterfly has photo books for 50% off. I will be ordering additional copies of my 2011 Heit’s Point book. If you would like a copy, please post a reply to this post by Sunday afternoon May 20th. They will be between $23 and $26 dollars depending on tax and shipping. I will bring them to Heit’s Point if you order one.