LOCAL LEADERS TELL STORIES OF THEIR FAVORITE AND INSPIRING BOOKS

John R. Eck

My favorite book of all times is Hero Stories for Children written in the 1920s. The book came from the old German School near my home when it was closed due to consolidation in the 1960s.

One story about Alexander the Great described his boyhood in Greece up until his death at an early age as he was about to conquer the "known" world of his time. That story inspired me to begin the study of history and has influenced me greatly in my life's work and interests. For 10 years it was a pleasure to teach history and social studies to some terrific students. During that time, I completed a master's degree in history, writing a graduate thesis about how Alexander the Great was presented in high school world history textbooks.

Thanks to professors Frank Nickell, Ernest Farmer, Josef Werne, Peter Yaremko, Jane Stephens, George Suggs, Chris Schnell, Truman Smith and a host of other excellent Southeast Missouri State University professors for a great education in history.

As the principal of L.J. Schultz Middle School, I am proud of the history and tradition of the school and the building. The fine teachers at Schultz continue a long-established tradition of excellent teaching, rivaled by few, excelled by none. Melvin Gateley and Dr. Carolyn Vandeven provided powerful leadership in hope to continue the same mission of service to Cape Girardeau in providing the best middle school education possible for our students.

John R. Eck

Principal,

Louis J. Schultz School

Jim Watkins

There are many "favorite" books, but The Keeper of the Bees stands above the others because of the time and circumstance in which I read it.

Growing up on a farm in Missouri did not give me an opportunity to visit an ocean, but this book created a visual picture of the ocean and the life and death struggle it holds for all living creatures.

This book also sparked an interest in beekeeping. With research and an investment, I helped my father take care of three hives until fall as we were harvesting honey -- that's when I found out I was very allergic to bee stings. I still remember the summer I was 10 years old and let books open new worlds to discover.

Jim Watkins,

Franklin School

Frank Ellis

As a child my favorite book was Jack and the Beanstalk. I used to dream of being Jack. "Boy, did I want to climb that beanstalk and discover gold!" I read different versions of that book, as well as watched different versions on television. I remember using my cassette recorder to tape fairy tales; then listened to them at bedtime and imagined that I was a character in the story or stories. Through the use of the recorder, I feel that my imagination was enhanced respectfully.

So kids, get ready, get ready, get ready to read, read, read and try recording and listening to your story at night around bedtime. You will be surprised!

Frank Ellis,

Assistant Principal

Alma Schrader

Gerald Landewee

One of my favorite books is The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein. The story begins with a tree that loved a boy. The boy would visit the tree periodically through his childhood, adolescence and adulthood. The tree would give something of itself to the boy each time he would visit. The tree would give the boy its leaves, apples, branches and shade. As time passed the boy grew older and didn't visit the tree as much; however, the tree continued to love the boy.

One day the boy returned. The tree recognized the boy who by now had become a man. The tree gave the boy its branches to build a house and trunk to build a boat. The boy sailed away and the tree grew lonely.

Time had passed and the boy returned to the tree as an elderly gentleman. The tree told the boy it had nothing more to give. By now the boy only required a place to sit and rest. Realizing that a stump is good for what the boy needed, the tree was happy to give all that remained of itself.

Reading and literacy is our "Giving Tree." Newspapers, books and other reading materials give to us the simple joys and necessities of life as the tree gave the boy. There are times in our lives when we forget to enjoy the pleasures literacy might bring to us, but eventually we grow older and realize that reading is the "stump" or foundation upon which we base our lives.

The Giving Tree is one book which offers much to readers of all ages. Find time to share this book with your family, students or classmates. Discover the importance of giving and loving that can be learned from a relationship symbolized between a tree and a boy.

Gerald Landewee,

Principal

Jefferson Elementary School

Dr. Barbara Kohlfeld

The summer that I was 10 years old my father told me that he would buy me a canopy bed if I read 50 books. I can remember reading day and night all summer long. I would walk to the Chaffee Public Library, check out armloads of books and walk home again.

The books that I discovered I enjoyed the most were nonfiction. I especially enjoyed reading about the lives of famous people like Abraham Lincoln, George Washington Carver, Thomas Edison and Helen Keller. I discovered that many of these people who are so admired and respected had gone through tremendous adversities. The failures and obstacles in their lives only made them try harder. They were people who succeeded only because they never quit trying.

I accomplished the goal my father set for me and read 50 books. We went shopping for that canopy bed. My mom made a beautiful gold brocade bedspread and canopy for my new bed. We still have the bed. Last winter, while I was cleaning out the basement, I found the list I had made for my father of the 50 books and their authors.

I was reading those book because I wanted the canopy bed. What I did not realize at the time, but now know, is that I learned a lot about a better way to live a life. We can all, in our own way, do great things every day.

Dr. Barbara Kohlfeld,

Principal

May Greene Elementary School