By Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

Beverly Gibson - Tashieka Mair photo

western bureau

After 37 years serving the teaching profession, Beverly Gibson, now 60 years old, said goodbye to the classroom and hello to relaxation.

However, Gibson, who spent the past 33 years at the Mount Salem All-Age School, told THE STAR, "I love those children dearly and I'm going to miss them so much."

She recalls that the students would await the vehicle that would take her to school, and would help her to carry books and anything that she had with her.

"Even when school dismissed earlier than usual, they (students) would stay behind and wait until my ride comes to pick me up," she recalled.

This stalwart is highly respected as one who has never given up on her students.

Guided by the philosophy, 'I shall past this way but once, and if there is any good that I can do, let me do it now for I shall not past this way again', she told THE STAR that no student has ever left her class without being able to read.

"Before every class I make sure to ask the students if they have any problems and if they do, I would try to help them resolve it before proceeding," she explained.

Completed classwork

This Mico Teachers' College graduate is very strict on class work and says that every child has to complete work given, as she believes this is the only way a teacher can know if the students need help.

She is a dedicated and principled teacher who also believes that indiscipline is a deterrent to learning.

"I was one who pulled out all the stops to make sure that my students learn."

However, though she is happy to be a teacher, she did not set out on that course. She was working at a post office when she got through to attend nursing school and teachers college at the same time. She decided to pursue teaching.

Gibson, who has always had a class of more than 50 students, said, "What is most fulfilling for me is when I get children who can't read and at the end of the term, they are able to read."

She expressed, however, that her greatest disappointment was that the school, which was seen as an inner-city school, was not given the support it needed from the general public.

"All the work must not be left on the teachers who try to make blood out of stone."

For more than 15 years she also sold the Children's Own to her students and was instrumental in introducing that paper at the first school where she taught.

Now that she will no longer be in the classroom, this mother of two looks forward to catching up on her gardening and reading. She also loves to bake and cook.