Mrs. Balas: She's A Teaching Legend

Ideally each child has at least one . . . a teacher who demands the best and gets results. It may take prodding, tutoring or a concern about the child's world outside school but somehow the teacher gets across the message: "I care." She stays after school to answer questions even when the daylight hours are short and the cold tempts her to go home at 3:15 p.m. And when spring comes, she is on the playground watching the diamondmen after school . . . not as an umpire or coach but as a friend. In some schools such teachers become Iegends. Bonnie Balas is one such teacher, according to many of her students and their parents. The sixth grade teacher who has served at Angelí Elementary School for 20 years will close Room 216 for the last time June 16. But not without fanfare. Her students and their parents are holding a retirement reception June 4 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Angelí to honor Mrs. Balas. Betty Lovell, one of the organizers, says more than 300 letters have been sent to former students whom the organizing committëe could locate. Mrs. Lovell says she hopes persons who have not ' received letters but know Mrs. Balas will also come to honor the retiring teacher. The parent-teacher admiration society isn't a one-sided affair. 'Tve had loads and loads of families of children. I've enjoyed teaching. You have parental support here. That is the thing that makes teaching ■ joyable ... not just the children." Mrs. Balas expalins. Mrs. Balas graduated írom Hanover College. She has done gradúate work at American University and received a master arts degree at the University of Michigan. She has Leen part of the [ Ann Arbor Public Schools since 1944. Mrs. Balas says she had no burning desire to be a teaccer vhen she graduated. Beaides teaching she has done secretarial work, bookkeeping and psychological research. She became a teacher when Otto Haisley. superintendent of the schools decided she should be a teacher rather than a secretary at Tappan Juiuor High School (now Burns Park Elementary). Mrs. Balas admits there is I more freedom in the schools than 20 years ago, but she adds: "Human . nature never changes. It is just what society does to it that makes children different." The veteran teacher addi, "There are certain standards I don't think I havechangëd in 20 years. You como to school to work and learn." When pressed to describe her classroom, Mrs. Balas c"" probably would be considered fairly strict. "But I can be free and easy with them, too," Mrs. Balas adds. She says the biggest disappointment in teaching comes vhen children don't produce to their level of ability. Mrs. Balas has been teaching math and science to sixth_gr_aders at Angelí this year but she has also taught a selfcontained classroom (with one teacher responsible for all the subjects). The other sixth grade teacher has been instructing the children about English and social studies. Mrs, Balas has her class for half the day and the other sixth grade class for the other half. Besides the academies, the ■ sixth grade student s learn some of the subtle lessons in life regarding politics and planning through class government and projects such as their own pet show. "Our class is organized. Of course, isn't everything organized? We have a class meeting i once every two weeks. I stay out as much as possible," Mrs. Balas explains. The class elects new officers every month. "The president is in charge of current events and leading the pledge to the flag. They do this religiously. The president also dismisses them at noon and night after I indícate it is all right," she says. Mrs. Balas says in spite of talk about young persons wanting to do their own thing, she thinks students appreciate a fairly structured routine. "There is a security in knowing what is going to happen. Over the years I haven't seen that they've changed," she adds. JJJjoghshespendsagreat (over please)