Balete District Bids Sir Raul Au Revoir

Entrance to the "Uphill" (Balete Elementary School)

The program cum invitation proclaims, "Au revoir!" and then subtitled by a quote:
"The mediocre teachers tells (sic). The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."

The Department of Education in the District of Balete is honoring Mr. Raul M. Jimera, its District Supervisor for more than a decade who is due to retire today. All of the school heads, principals and those who were close to him have been asked to deliver their "reflections" while the schools, both elementary and secondary are expected to come up with some presentations. I was invited to witness the event but is still undecided.

Mr. Jimera was one of the "effective" mentors during my elementary years. He taught Industrial Education to us boys and was our worthy Scout Master. My batch and my contemporaries were proud that in our time, the District of Balete won the most awards for two consecutive years during the Provincial Jamboree held in the towns of Altavas and Lezo respectively. And Sir Raul was the acknowledged brain in getting all those feathers in our caps.

But whatever be the others have to say of the man, I for myself will always be grateful to have been under his tutelage and quote unabashedly, "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."

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