Gay Teacher Found Acceptance at Lorne Skuce ■ Continued from Page 3 Was Giving in Return
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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday July 1, 2006 - 11 Gay teacher found acceptance at Lorne Skuce ■ Continued from page 3 was giving in return. long and rewarding career and teachers, not other teachers and “It is not despite who I am that “It’s the kids who make the leave loving it even more than the not the administration for the kids without mittens in the winter time, my kids learn from me and that we teachers, not other teachers day I started. board of education,” he said. and kids who fall behind in their reading have such a wonderful time in the “My thanks to everyone for Yeo said he’s leaving the Halton because their parents can’t afford books. and not the administration process…it’s who I am that has spending this time with me, but District School Board (HDSB) with “We’ve bought kids books as birthday for the board of education.” enriched my teaching and helped especially for that most precious of a “real sense of optimism for the presents, provided mittens and hats, paid me bring a deeper, more meaning- gifts that only the Lorne Skuce future. I sense that our new educa- for trips and we provided a Christmas for ■ Dennis Yeo, ful experience to my classroom for community could have given to tion director Wayne Joudrie has a at least one local family. Lorne Skuce is a Lorne Skuce my kids and for the many others I me…the courage to be me.” real sense of people – a real feel for small ‘have-not’ school. The funding for- retiring teacher spend time with each week.” Yeo started teaching in people, not just the system, and I’m mula is so unfair to ‘have-not’ Making reference to the gay Burlington at age 22. Twenty-four encouraged by the consultants who schools…they can’t get away from being end of June or see one of our kids pride celebrations in Toronto, Yeo years ago, he started teaching in help with curriculum…talented ‘have-not’ schools,” he said. long-graduated that comes back to said, “I’ll be quietly celebrating my Oakville, first at Maple Grove, then teachers who teach other teach- At his retirement party at the school visit and tells me so. I know it as pride in this community for giving E. J. James and arrived at Lorne ers.” on Saturday, Yeo asked for donations to surely as I know that I’ve learned me the confidence to finally bring Skuce as school librarian in 1989. He plans to stay involved with the Lorne Skuce ‘angel fund’ instead of from them as much as I taught. all that I am to work.” “But with government cutbacks the school board and as a member gifts, and spoke about what teaching has “I hope I touched their hearts. Yeo ended his talk with one final I discovered that being the librari- of its spectrum diversity communi- meant to him. I’m confident that those life lessons message. an was no longer just about books ty for “employees dealing with Yeo views teaching as being part of I’ve learned through my own expe- “As one of the villagers who and literacy, but was becoming homophobia.” the global village that raises a child. rience, but especially those family helped to raise your children, and more technical. Books were taking He credits the board’s diversity “My colleagues and I know…and values that my mom taught me are speaking for all those other teach- a back seat, so I decided to go back coordinator, Suzanne Muir, for ini- teachers all over the world have been worth passing on. I like to think ers like me who haven’t yet found into the classroom six years ago.” tiating this group. He will also helping to raise your children from the that some of my kids heard their voices, in classrooms now or Throughout his career he has become active in HOPE, the first day they came to school, sometimes through all my bluff and bluster those who will pick up the chalk taught mostly split grade classes. Halton Organization for Pride in even when it felt like there was no one how much they were valued and when I lay it down, I know I’ve He attributes his success as a Education. else in the village,” he said. that I helped to teach them how to touched their minds. I know it teacher to his young students. “I’ll be replacing another “My retirement celebration is really a make other feel valued, too. every time I send a class on at the “It’s the kids who make the teacher on its board in the fall.” celebration of all of you who are part of “And that’s why I can celebrate a this safe little haven that gives our kids such an amazing start. “And it’s not just the children who are nurtured and supported by a caring com- munity. Even old retiring teachers have blossomed in this magical place. I’ve always believed in my heart that I brought the best of me to my classroom and that was, for the most part, true. “For the first 29 years of my career I was always grateful for the gift of teach- ing your children. They gave me laugh- ter and a purpose – gifts so invaluable that I rarely felt deserving of them. But then age 50 happened and all of the stars aligned…” He credited Bob Hewson, who arrived as principal a few years ago – Lorne Skuce is his first school – with keeping the school “sailing on smooth seas.” “The Lorne Skuce crew, including so many from the community, had become a second family to me. “It was then that I decided that it was THURSDAY JULY 6 - time to bring all of me to my work and so it was, with the support and blessings of SUNDAY JULY 16 my colleagues and with the blanket of safety that makes me feel protected in this school, that I did just that. “And to my utter amazement not only was there more laughter and a greater sense of purpose, but I finally understood that my teaching was also a gift that I COME ENJOY ALL THE FUN RIDES INCLUDE Ferris Wheel Merry-Go-Round Rocket Race Scrambler Tornado Umbrella Bikes Tilt-A-Whirl Convoy Race Samba Balloon ALL RIDES 1 Coupon Only Coupons are $2 each or 10 for $15.