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In my previous column, I featured four teachers who were icons in the Andrews schools. I would be remiss if I did not add Ruth Hamilton Kyker to the list. She was an “old school” educator who was dedicated to her students learning American history.
I remember my first day in the 11th grade when I quietly found a seat in her classroom before the bell rang. My cousin Lynn, had told me she was a strict teacher, so I was a little apprehensive. She had a podium at the front of the classroom and she walked up to it, then leaned over on her arms across it and you could have heard a pin drop.
She introduced herself, then said, “You will not fail this class. If I must sit with you every day after school I will, because you will learn American History. So, you can get it during class or you can spend every day with me after school.”
She meant what she said, and when some of the students were kept after school studying with Mrs. Kyker for weeks on end, they miraculously started paying attention in class. I wonder how many teachers today would be that committed to spend hours of their time after school making sure a student passes their class.
She also was a defender of our democracy and our constitution. There are a lot of politicians in our government today who would have been well served to have been educated in her American history class. In a class debate about communism later in the year, we had a student who moved to Andrews, and he said, “Well, when the communists take over our government” at which point I said, “The communists will not take over the United States.” Then Mrs. Kyker said, “I will tell you right now, if the communist did take over, Kandy and I would be the first two shot. And the class said, “Amen.”
We have people starving across the globe, children devastated by wars, racism running rampant, hatred fueled by anti-American groups, and the decline of truth, manners and morals in our government officials. Mrs. Kyker would be appalled.
Sam Webb was our driver education teacher, and he was the best. He had a wonderful dry sense of humor that would just crack you up. Connie Brown and I were assigned to drive together for our lessons, and Mr. Webb had us driving all over this county. We also had to do a three-point turn in the road and parallel park.
He was adamant about learning all the traffic signs and who had the right of way, something that does not seem to click with younger drivers. It is amazing how many drivers nowadays do not even know the basics of driving, as you can tell at a four-way stop.
Teachers play an important part in which direction a student will go, they nurture the students’ talents
make them think on their own, and challenge them to be the best they can be. Teachers are under-appreciated and underpaid for one of the most important jobs in this country.
I leave with you the words of Henry Adams: “A teacher affects eternity, he can never tell where his influence stops.”
Kandy Barnard is a columnist for the Cherokee Scout. To talk about the Andrews Valley, call her at 828-361-3268 or email kandybarnard@gmail.com.