Part A: Language PointsWhereas my otherteachers approached the problem of easingin their new black pupil by ignoring him for the first fewweeks,Miss Bean went right at me. On the morning after having read ourfirst assignment, she asked me the first question.I later came toknow that in Grand Rapids, she was viewed as a very liberalperson who believed, among other things, that Negroes were equal.K
4. Whereas my other teachers approached the problem of easing in their new black pupil by ignoring him for the first few weeks, Miss Bean went right at me. On the morning after having read our first assignment, she asked me the first question. I later came to know that in Grand Rapids, she was viewed as a very liberal person who believed, among other things, that Negroes were equal. Part A: Language Points
Part A: Language Points5. I gulped and answered her question and the follow-up.Theyweren't brilliant answers,but they did establish the fact that I couldspeak English. Later in the hour, when one of my classmates hadbungled an answer,Miss Bean cameback to me witha question thatrequired me to clean up the girl's mess and established me as asmartperson6. Thus, the teacher began to give me human dimensions, thoughnot perfect ones for an eighth grader.It was somewhat better to beon one's early days,a teacher's pet than merely a dark presence inthebackoftheroomK
5. I gulped and answered her question and the follow-up. They weren’t brilliant answers, but they did establish the fact that I could speak English. Later in the hour, when one of my classmates had bungled an answer, Miss Bean came back to me with a question that required me to clean up the girl’s mess and established me as a smart person. 6. Thus, the teacher began to give me human dimensions, though not perfect ones for an eighth grader. It was somewhat better to be, on one’s early days, a teacher’s pet than merely a dark presence in the back of the room. Part A: Language Points
Part A: Language Points7. A few days later, Miss Bean became the first teacher ever torequire me to think. She asked my opinion about somethingJefferson had done.In those days, all my opinions were derivative.Iwas for Roosevelt because my parents were and I was for theYankees because my older buddy from Harlem was a Yankees fan.Besides, we didn't have opinions about historical figures likeJefferson.Like ourhigh schoolbuilding,hejust was.KD
7. A few days later, Miss Bean became the first teacher ever to require me to think. She asked my opinion about something Jefferson had done. In those days, all my opinions were derivative. I was for Roosevelt because my parents were and I was for the Yankees because my older buddy from Harlem was a Yankees fan. Besides, we didn’t have opinions about historical figures like Jefferson. Like our high schoolbuilding, he just was. Part A: Language Points
四Part A: Language Points8. After I had stared at her for a few seconds, she said:"Well,should he have bought Louisiana or not?"9.“guess so,"Ireplied tentatively10.“Why?"sheshotback.11. Why!What kind of question was that? But I ventured an answer.Day after day,she kept doing that to me,and my answers becamestronger and more confident. She was the first teacher to give me thesense that thinking was part of education and that I could formopinionsthathad somevalue.V
8. After I had stared at her for a few seconds, she said: “Well, should he have bought Louisiana or not?” 9. “I guess so,” I replied tentatively. 10. “Why?” she shot back. 11. Why! What kind of question was that? But I ventured an answer. Day after day, she kept doing that to me, and my answers became stronger and more confident. She was the first teacher to give me the sense that thinking was part of education and that I could form opinions that had some value. Part A: Language Points
奇Part A: Language Points12.Her final service to me came on a day when my mind waswandering and I was idly digging my pencil into the writing surfaceon the arm of my chair.Miss Bean impulsively threw a hunk of gumeraser at me.By amazing chance, it hit my hand and sent the penciflying.She gasped, andI crept hurriedlyafter my pencil as the classroared.13. That was the ice breaker. Afterwards, kids came up to me tolaugh about "Old Dead-Eye Bean."The incident became a legend,and l, a part ofthat story,becamea person to talk to14. So that's how I became just another kid in school and DorothyBeanbecame“Old Dead-Eye
12. Her final service to me came on a day when my mind was wandering and I was idly digging my pencil into the writing surface on the arm of my chair. Miss Bean impulsively threw a hunk of gum eraser at me. By amazing chance, it hit my hand and sent the pencil flying. She gasped, and I crept hurriedly after my pencil as the class roared. 13. That was the ice breaker. Afterwards, kids came up to me to laugh about “Old Dead-Eye Bean.” The incident became a legend, and I, a part of that story, became a person to talk to. 14. So that’s how I became just another kid in school and Dorothy Bean became “Old Dead-Eye.” Part A: Language Points