THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603020085
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
It was time to give THE SPEECH.
Several faces turned red. A few girls nervously twisted curly locks around their fingers.
Other students in Elaine Driggins' class closed their eyes and mouthed the famous words before it was their turn to stand in front of the room.
Most were prepared to recite part of Patrick Henry's history-making speech. But they had not anticipated a major case of butterflies this recent afternoon at Robertson Elementary.
So Driggins, as she often does, eased the tension by letting the kids know she could relate. She told them about the time she recited a speech in 10th grade; about her fear of speaking before large groups.
She urged the fourth-graders to focus on something on the wall or ceiling; or pretend that the audience was really Mom and Dad. The kids soon offered their own suggestions, like pretending everyone was in the nude. (A few giggles after that one.)
With a renewed sense of calm in the room, Driggins returned to her seat and glanced at the class roster.
``OK,'' she said gleefully. ``Who's going to be lucky enough to be the first one?''
Teaching is the only assignment Driggins has ever wanted. She takes pride in getting her students to see her as a grownup who still remembers what it's like to be a kid.
She recently found out that she would be listed with other stellar teachers in an upcoming edition of ``Who's Who Among America's Teachers'' - an honor that she says proves she's ``doing something right.''
The complete list, compiled annually, will be released in October.
Only high school and college students who themselves have been cited for academic excellence in the ``Who's Who Among American High School Students'' or ``The National Dean's List'' publications may nominate a teacher for the recognition.
A nomination practically ensures inclusion in the publication.
Margaret Nichols, a 1995 Lakeland High graduate who now attends the College of William and Mary, was named in the former publication for the past two school years.
Nichols said she nominated Driggins, her third- and fourth-grade teacher, primarily because of the way she made her feel.
``She cared about us as students and as people,'' said Nichols, 19. ``She made things fun, too. I can't think of anything in particular, but you were just glad to be there.''
Driggins says she's still not sure what she did to earn such praise so many years later.
``I've just tried to instill in all my students the fact that no matter who they are or where they come from, an education is very important to them,'' she said.
``If they don't get it in the elementary grades, it will be much harder for them when they grow up.''
Driggins, a 21-year teaching veteran, says she's ``from the old school.'' She likes ``Yes, Ma'am'' and ``No, Ma'am'' responses, for example.
The kids say she's tough because she gives ``a lot'' of homework, won't tolerate unruliness and has a no-time-to-waste attitude - always making the most of every minute.
She said her own fourth-grade teacher was ``very strict, but very understanding and always there when I needed her.'' Driggins - who has no children of her own, but often jokingly says she has 20 - wants her students to remember her the same way.
But children, she quickly added, are much more than ``students.''
``A lot of times,'' she said, ``they have problems at home and they need to talk with someone. I try to be there for them in every way I can.''
Nine-year-old Wendy Bryant described her teacher as a trusted buddy.
``She's stricter than other teachers, but she's my best teacher yet,'' Wendy said.
``I think she understands us and she always explains stuff to help us. She's the person in my life I never had, but someone I need.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Elaine Driggins works with Aisha Reid, a fourth-grader at Robertson
Elementary School.
by CNB