March 2001                                                         The Megaphone                                                                 Page 7

Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001
From: Julie (Stout) Duffitt
To: The Panther Den; Sharon (Woods) Schwartz

Dear Sharon and Den Family,
    In the late afternoon mail came a letter from my Aunt Betty [Dunn] Ross of Carmel, Indiana. She graduated from Elwood schools in 1937.  An enclosed copy of a letter to her was enclosed...that I will bring with me to Phoenix...soon.

    Sharon's father was a teacher in the Elwood school system for a great many years. The following is the letter...from him to my Aunt and her sixth grade class at Osborn school.

  A belated Happy Birthday, Sharon . . .

Osborn School
Elwood, Indiana
1-30-31

Dear Pupil,
    I hope that you will keep this letter to remind you of the sixth grade and Osborn School which you are leaving today to never return again as a pupil.

    I will be happy if you feel as if this school has done much in giving you perhaps the best start you could expect in your school-life and that you fully appreciate it by remembering the things it has done for you.

    I have tried to be more than a teacher to you. I have put forth great effort to give you a very happy and peaceful time while in my room.  I have tried to teach you not only the necessary schoolwork but also lessons of life which may make your future success more glorified.

    Your class is one of the best to go from this school. A better one may be expected year after year. Your class is very outstanding in this respect. This class will never meet in one group again like it is today. Let us never forget the joy of friendship we have shared together.

    You have reached another stepping stone to success. I am hopeful that this will not be your last but that you will rise to a worthwhile place in life. Always remember that most goals worth reaching are hard to reach.

    I must now say good by and the best of luck to your future success and happiness.  I shall never forget your past friendship.

Very Sincere,
Forest R. Woods

Then . . . from Sharon:

Dear Sweet Julie . . .
  This is the most precious gift you have given me...it is late here and I was about to go to bed...I heard, "You've got mail." and I chose to see who it was from instead of going to bed first....and in doing so....got a hug from my dad...how truly wonderful this "moment in time" was for me...I am sitting here with tears running down my face...tears of love for my dad and for a teacher...who loved his students and who loved what he was doing...at my 45th class reunion my sister wrote a poem which follows...it is self explanatory...I want to share it with all of you...my dad died when he was but 64 years old...that is what I am as of yesterday...64 years old...strange that you dear Julie should have your Aunt give you this to give to me on the same age birthday ...as when he died....thank you JJ from the bottom of my heart...I love you dear friend....and I love all of you sweet Kits and Kats....

Love...Sharon (Woods) Schwartz '55 

Phoenix, Arizona

He taught in a impoverished school district...yet he held his students in high-esteem...he was sensitive to their hurts...they learned to smile, love and care about others.

His strictness coupled with a quiet gentleness gave his character balance. He turned homework into a game...he taught me the real values of life.

His homemade "wooden paddle"...traveled around to most the class before the school term ended. It too was held in high-esteem. He went past the ABC's straight to the heart of a child...he gave more of himself than was required...asking only to be respected and loved in return...when I needed him...he was there....

Ill health prevented him from growing old...He left this life for eternity...but his legacy lives on.
  

He was more than a teacher...he was my dad....

Sharon (Woods) Schwartz '55