Jack Kingston: “In 1973 two significant education-related events occurred in my life. No. 1, Clark Central High School teacher Bertha…”

“In 1973 two significant education-related events occurred in my life. No. 1, Clark Central High School teacher Bertha Musick retired after 37 years of teaching. Mrs. Musick had taught social studies, science, and English in elementary school, junior high school, and high school, but during my time in high school she was known as the 11th grade teacher in that feared and hated subject of grammar. On the 12-year bumpy road to a high school diploma, Bertha Musick was the gatekeeper. If you could not pass 11th grade grammar, you could not get a diploma, and Mrs. Musick did not give away any freebies. I, along with most Athens, GA, kids, started hearing about Mrs. Musick's 11th grade class as early as in the 9th grade. Pray you do not get her, it is the hardest class at Clark Central, the upper classmen would warn us, yet nothing could be done to prevent it. Student placement and teacher selection was done in some dark, secret chamber far beyond the influence of watchful eyes of 16-year-old students. What would I do if I got Mrs. Musick? The luck of the draw was such that I did get Mrs. Musick, and I guess from her perspective, she got me. My deepest fears were realized: How was I, a mere average kid, going to live up to her high standards? My first task was to know all of her many ground rules. She was known as a strict no-nonsense instructor; no talking, no napping, no note-passing, and never forget your grammar book.”