Community Q&A 7/8/04

Name: Mary D. Wilhite

Lives in: Cape Girardeau

Family: Husband, Robert (deceased); son, Arthur.

Job: Retired teacher (31 yearrs) bachelor's and master's degrees.

What do you like most about the area? My family and friends are here and the changing of the seasons.

Favorite food: Strawberries, nectarines, shrimp.

Favorite TV show: "Jeopardy" and old movies.

Best advice: Get an education and use it to serve God and others.

Person you most admire: My mother, Mildred Johnson. She and Dad were active Christians and raised three children. She went back to college at age 40, completed her degree, and taught 25 years.

What would you do if you won the lottery? Tithe, travel, set up some scholarships and probably buy a different house.

Pet peeve: People, mostly talk show hosts, who judge all educators and education by what happens in the large city schools or in the schools on the East and West Coast. People who judge teachers without knowing all the circumstances. People who say teachers are overpaid (my day lasted from 7:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. most days, then night meetings and school work at home; summer school for 22 summers).