Mr. Drew Monkman – An Amazing Teacher

Sitting under the big tree with the silence was a Royal Treat. The morning was set aside for all of us to sit and listen, be inspired and then to create something from the influence of our surroundings. I was alone.

Not far away was a Grade Five student and further down the way was another and still another. Each sat with their clip board to which a sheet of drawing paper was attached. Brilliant minds were setting themselves quietly aside from a very full school schedule to spend the whole day in Nature’s Surroundings.

Pure bliss.. simply pure joy.

That was the beginning of a wonderful day with my Granddaughter’s Grade Five class.

It ended with us all walking in a shallows of Indian River looking for all sorts of creatures that live in the river and the river’s edge habitat. Their teacher Drew Monkman is an amazing man that has impacted many students year after year at this Public School. It was a delight to walk and talk with him. He loves every inch of his world… and the kids as well. He is a Teacher.

He loves his kids – and they know it. And that is the reason that I suppose that they all cooperate so well. They are an amazing class.

(Mr. Monkman has earned some special awards – see the Links below…)

I have now walked with school classes for almost 31 years – starting with my own daughters and now being available for their kid’s school trips as well.

I dropped back slightly from the wandering students and their teacher as they plodded through the heavy forest down the road. There up ahead was the Master with his listening students as they walked together. (See photo above)

Now they are not all saints. They laugh and giggle and shout and tease and watch each other closely. They are 10 year olds.. and are as full of life as anyone could ever be.

It was a silly moment that I shot this last photo… Emma was looking for her Prince – so she tried KISSING a Frog. Maybe the problem was that it should have been a TOAD to get the prince…but nothing happened. WHAT a Wedding shot for later!!!!

Finally I want to say ‘Thank You’ to Mr. Drew Monkman for his efforts to simply impact the next generation. You are doing this very well. And I want to thank you as well as all the other teachers that have left something special as a mark on each child’s life.

Some people may think that a University Prof is one that made a difference for them. I am thankful for some of the Profs I have had over the years. They were great. BUT there is nothing like a GREAT Public School Teacher that lights the first fires for others to begin building on.

These people are special – I thank them all!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://www.peterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1751241

http://www.drewmonkman.com/
http://books.google.ca/books?id=Qvj1SlfDuzgC&dq=Drew+Monkman&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=GMn7Ri65Tl&sig=jQ8PaeFTq_XUbCrrZBt-VJaXDrQ&hl=en&ei=LW26Sp_SKMfR8QbijY2MBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#v=onepage&q=&f=false

http://www.ontarionature.org/home/conference.html