TEACHER'S CORNER: IRELAND TEACHES AT WOODLAND SCHOOLS

Alice Ireland wanted to be what she had heard so much about as a child.

"Growing up listening to educators talk about helping children," she said, "inspired me to do the same thing."

So Ireland followed in the footsteps of her grandfather, mother, aunts and uncles who were teachers or school administrators.

Ireland teaches educable mentally handicapped and learning disabled kindergarten and first grade students in the Woodland R-4 School District's early elementary building at Marble Hill.

A graduate of Scott City High School, she received a bachelor of science degree in secondary education and a master of arts degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University.

Ireland began teaching in 1972 and has taught for 15 years in secondary and elementary schools. She has taught high school English and journalism as well as special education. She also has a parent educator certificate and has worked with the Parents as Teachers program since its beginning.

Teaching has its rewards for Ireland.

"The greatest reward for me is to see the smile on a child's face when he masters a task for the first time," she said, "especially one which is difficult for him.

"My students are a joy, and I look forward to something funny or unforgettable every day.

"Their energy, enthusiasm and happiness keeps me on my toes, and, I hope, at my best for them every day."

Beginning this year, Ireland's class will participate in a new program with the other EMH teachers at Woodland School.

"This program will better prepare our students for survival in society when they are no longer in school," Ireland said.

"This language-based community survival program involves teaching such skills as cooking, grocery shopping and eating in restaurants."

Ireland feels that her most memorable experience was her first year as a high school special education teacher at Cairo, Ill.

"I feel that most of my better teaching techniques relate back in some way to that first unforgettable year," she said.

Ireland lives in Jackson with her husband, Charles Ireland, a professor at Southeast Missouri State University. They have a son, Sean, 14.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, sewing, and fishing. She also cultivates roses and other flowers and likes to watch her son play soccer.