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Page 11 text:
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Students all too often forget that teachers are really people, with interesting per- sonal lives beneath the professorial surface. The four years of high school pass so quickly that often only a few individuals stand out in the student’s memory. One such person who deserves to be remembered, both as an efficient guidance counselor and as a charm- ing and sympathetic individual, is Miss Mary Patton, who will be leaving us in June after thirty-four years of service in Great Neck. Miss Patton's childhood was divided between the South (Birmingham, Alabama) and the North (Cleveland, Ohio). At West- ern Reserve University she was an editor of the college newspaper, writing feature articles because the human element” of the news was always more interesting to her. Follow- ing graduation, Miss Patton became an ele- mentary school teacher, though her dream was to be newspaperwoman. After earning her M.A. at Columbia University, she was then qualified to teach either grade school or high school English. From 1932 to 1941 Miss Patton taught at the Lakeville School in Great Neck—over the years teaching every grade except fourth—and then moved to the high school. An active member of this faculty, she taught English and creative writing, and sponsored the G.O. for several years. Having earned a second M.A. in the field of guidance, Miss Patton joined that department in 1948. Although she has always loved English, she chose to take the new position, because I have always enjoyed working with students. concern she sees the individual student placed in a paradoxical situation. On one hand, the affluence of the community discourages cer- tain opportunities for developing responsi- bility and self-sufficiency; on the other hand, the student is expected to cope with the tre- mendous pressure of getting into college. Tension is created both at home and in school; too much anxiety is aroused. As Miss Patton says, Young people are too heavily burdened by a situation beyond their control. It's the age we live in—college is not just a wonderful next step but an agonizing worry from the very start of high school.” Miss Patton is also disturbed by the feeling that everybody has to be busy doing something all the time. She would rather see a student who is happy, healthy, and at home with himself and others than one who’s a holder of a Ph. D. From her many years as a student advisor, as well as from the experience in life she has gathered throughout the years, Miss Patton summarizes her hopes for young people as follows: That they be willing to look at their abilities and limitations and accept both; that they have the willingness to work hard to develop all that is best in themselves, and that they have the generosity to share all this in some way with others.” Recognizing the devotion that lies be- hind her thirty-four years of service to our school system, we dedicate this book to Miss Mary Patton. I think that an individual is more important than subject matter. All my life the human element has been, to me, of first importance. Although proud of having been part of the Great Neck school system for so many years, Miss Patton based her decision to leave at this time on her feeling that it is a good idea to retire while one still has the energy and enthusiasm to do other things. A collector of antiques, Miss Patton plans to live in her home at East Hampton. The house itself is 250 years old and is situated in a community which has a great pride in and respect for the past. Miss Patton plans to devote herself to actively enjoying life in East Hampton, gar- dening, antique collecting, and caring for her collie dog. One possible occupation, fulfilling her long dormant dream, would be writing for the East Hampton newspaper. Another activity included in future plans is traveling. Over the years Miss Mary Patton has watched the Great Neck school system grow, and with it the amount of pressure placed on the student preparing for college. With great
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