{This was written as an essay for one of Mr. Bond’s Public Speaking classes. Evidently he read it at a faculty dinner in her honor and submitted it to the Hi Crier, the daily high school section of the Niles Times. It was published on May 21, 1953 – much to my surprise.}
Every person who comes into association with a young man influences him in some way. This is especially true of a teacher. Every good teacher leaves an indelible mark on the mind of her student. One of these teachers I shall remember always.
One teacher at McKinley High School is a veritable institution in herself. During her 40-odd-years career she has probably influenced over two thousand boys and girls. I am indeed proud to have been one of this number.
A person is never fully appreciated upon direct contact. A sparkling diamond is best viewed at a prospective distance; a teacher’s merits can be fully realized only in retrospect.
Miss Elenor Galster is such a person. Almost any of her present mathematics students, whether he takes a form of geometry or algebra, will complain that she works him much too hard – she makes him think. But any college student who has been in one of her classes praises her greatly for the same reason expressed in somewhat different terms – she taught him HOW to think. This is the educational philosophy of our beloved mathematics instructor: think before you say it. A student who repeats the words of the book without understanding the fundamentals is indeed, giving only “parrot talk.”
This lesson can be applied to our way of life. Too much of what we do and say is only “parrot talk.” In her own way Miss Galster has tried to teach us how to use the mentalities God gave us, whether we are working a geometry theorem or living an adult life. Many times she has shown us that the greatest feeling an intelligent man can have is undertaking a difficult problem and solving it. The feeling of accomplishment is well worth the effort.
I am deeply sorry that future students will not have the opportunity of having this great lady as a mathematics instructor. Miss Galster has decided to retire from the teaching profession. This indeed will be a great loss for the students of Niles McKinley, students who regarded her with deep devotion and affection. These students may some day forget the sum of two and two, but wherever they go, whatever they do, they will always remember our Miss Galster.