ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1996 TAG: 9607010081
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
NOTE: Below
Rae Scott has been a mother to the children at Roanoke's Hurt Park Elementary School for three decades.
She has hugged them, combed their hair, pulled their teeth, put Band-Aids on their scratches, handed out their pills and listened to their troubles.
She used to check out library books for them. And she spanked them sometimes, too - back when that was allowed.
"I've done a little of everything," said Scott, who retired Friday. "You did whatever had to be done."
Officially, she was the school's secretary, but her duties extended far beyond the job title.
"I look at her and I see a mother for our community," Principal Gary Galbreath said. "She nurtures and relates to the children and teachers - and everyone in Hurt Park."
Scott has been there whenever the children had a problem.
"She takes those with emotional baggage and talks with them one on one," Galbreath said. "She'll hug them, buy them a special book or something else. She'll let them know they're worthwhile."
Scott has the right touch with pupils because of her many years of experience - both in school and as the mother of seven children of her own, he said.
"She targets the children who need special attention," Galbreath said. "She's a very religious person. She has love in her heart for the children of Hurt Park."
All the while, she has performed the other duties of a secretary - from answering the phone to typing letters to talking with parents. She also doubled as library clerk for many years.
Scott, 65, came to Hurt Park in 1966, just five years after the school was built. She has worked with eight principals and scores of teachers. She has been there in the best and the worst of times.
The school flourished during the 1970s when Richard Chubb was principal and established a community education program: It was open at night to children and parents.
During the early 1990s, however, there was little community support and the Parent-Teacher Association folded. But Galbreath, who became principal last year, has revived the PTA and more parents have become involved in school activities.
Scott, who grew up in Albemarle County and started her career in a rural school there, said she stayed at Hurt Park because she believed that is where she belonged.
"I loved it here and the people I have worked with. Each principal had a different personality and I've tried to be supportive of each," she said.
Scott said changes in children's behavior and manners during the past 30 years have created a different atmosphere in schools.
The adage about children "being seen and not heard" is no longer true, she said. Parents used to control the movement and speech of their children, she said, but many don't now.
"Many children are free to go where they want and say what they want," she said. "Many parents don't punish their children regardless of what they do or say, and there are [restrictions] on what teachers can do."
As secretary, Scott has to answer dozens of phone calls daily from people seeking information and parents explaining why their children are absent. Over the years, she said, she has heard many reasons why children missed school or were tardy.
"People expect you to be a dictionary and encyclopedia - to know everything," she said. "You're expected to know the phone numbers for all agencies and where people should go for help."
Scott has worked closely with the PTA in making calls and helping arrange events.
"She's always been there when we needed her," said Su Albert, outgoing PTA president. "It's sad that she's leaving, and the school is going to miss her. She'll do anything in the world for you."
Scott recalls Hurt Park's alumni and some pupils who grew up to become nationally known in college and professional basketball. George Lynch, a former star at Patrick Henry High and the University of North Carolina, attended the school.
Lynch, who now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, was a "typical kid when he was in school," she said. "He'd get into trouble sometimes like a lot of kids."
Steve Robinson, basketball coach at the University of Tulsa, also went to Hurt Park. Robinson's team at Tulsa was in the NCAA basketball tournament this year. Several other former college basketball players also attended the school.
Hurt Park has nearly tripled in size since Scott went to work there. The school had only eight classrooms when she began, but it underwent two expansions during the 1970s and now has 21 rooms. The enrollment has nearly doubled, to 350.
Scott has mixed emotions about retiring. "I love what I do, but I realize I'm getting old and forgetful. I don't get around as well as I used to."
She said she doesn't remember children's names as easily now. "After seeing a child one time and hearing their name, I could remember it. I can't always do that now."
She also thinks it's unfair to expect her husband to keep getting up early and bring her to school daily even though he is retired from his job as a life insurance agent. She never learned to drive, and he has always brought her to work.
Scott gets to the school by 7 a.m., long before the children arrive. "Nothing upsets me more than to get to work late," she said. "I like to get here early so I can do some things before the day gets going."
Scott said she will have plenty of church work to keep her occupied after she retires. She is a member of High Street Baptist Church and sings in the church choir.
The Rev. Noel Taylor, the former Roanoke mayor who is Scott's pastor, has asked her to help with a special project to put the church's membership records on computer.
Scott also hopes to spend more time with her family. She has six living children, 18 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. "There'll be plenty to keep me busy. I won't have any trouble finding something to do."
LENGTH: Long : 114 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: WAYNE DEEL/Staff. After three decades on the job as aby CNBschool secretary, Rae Scott has just a few days left at her desk at
Hurt Park Elementary School. color.