www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday July 1, 2006 - 11 Gay teacher found acceptance at Lorne Skuce Continued from page 3 kids without mittens in the winter time, and kids who fall behind in their reading because their parents can't afford books. "We've bought kids books as birthday presents, provided mittens and hats, paid for trips and we provided a Christmas for at least one local family. Lorne Skuce is a small `have-not' school. The funding formula is so unfair to `have-not' schools...they can't get away from being `have-not' schools," he said. At his retirement party at the school on Saturday, Yeo asked for donations to the Lorne Skuce `angel fund' instead of gifts, and spoke about what teaching has meant to him. Yeo views teaching as being part of the global village that raises a child. "My colleagues and I know...and teachers all over the world have been helping to raise your children from the first day they came to school, sometimes even when it felt like there was no one else in the village," he said. "My retirement celebration is really a celebration of all of you who are part of this safe little haven that gives our kids such an amazing start. "And it's not just the children who are nurtured and supported by a caring community. Even old retiring teachers have blossomed in this magical place. I've always believed in my heart that I brought the best of me to my classroom and that was, for the most part, true. "For the first 29 years of my career I was always grateful for the gift of teaching your children. They gave me laughter and a purpose gifts so invaluable that I rarely felt deserving of them. But then age 50 happened and all of the stars aligned..." He credited Bob Hewson, who arrived as principal a few years ago Lorne Skuce is his first school with keeping the school "sailing on smooth seas." "The Lorne Skuce crew, including so many from the community, had become a second family to me. "It was then that I decided that it was time to bring all of me to my work and so it was, with the support and blessings of my colleagues and with the blanket of safety that makes me feel protected in this school, that I did just that. "And to my utter amazement not only was there more laughter and a greater sense of purpose, but I finally understood that my teaching was also a gift that I was giving in return. "It is not despite who I am that my kids learn from me and that we have such a wonderful time in the process...it's who I am that has enriched my teaching and helped me bring a deeper, more meaningful experience to my classroom for my kids and for the many others I spend time with each week." Making reference to the gay pride celebrations in Toronto, Yeo said, "I'll be quietly celebrating my pride in this community for giving me the confidence to finally bring all that I am to work." Yeo ended his talk with one final message. "As one of the villagers who helped to raise your children, and speaking for all those other teachers like me who haven't yet found their voices, in classrooms now or those who will pick up the chalk when I lay it down, I know I've touched their minds. I know it every time I send a class on at the "It's the kids who make the teachers, not other teachers and not the administration for the board of education." Dennis Yeo, Lorne Skuce retiring teacher end of June or see one of our kids long-graduated that comes back to visit and tells me so. I know it as surely as I know that I've learned from them as much as I taught. "I hope I touched their hearts. I'm confident that those life lessons I've learned through my own experience, but especially those family values that my mom taught me are worth passing on. I like to think that some of my kids heard through all my bluff and bluster how much they were valued and that I helped to teach them how to make other feel valued, too. "And that's why I can celebrate a long and rewarding career and leave loving it even more than the day I started. "My thanks to everyone for spending this time with me, but especially for that most precious of gifts that only the Lorne Skuce community could have given to me...the courage to be me." Yeo started teaching in Burlington at age 22. Twenty-four years ago, he started teaching in Oakville, first at Maple Grove, then E. J. James and arrived at Lorne Skuce as school librarian in 1989. "But with government cutbacks I discovered that being the librarian was no longer just about books and literacy, but was becoming more technical. Books were taking a back seat, so I decided to go back into the classroom six years ago." Throughout his career he has taught mostly split grade classes. He attributes his success as a teacher to his young students. "It's the kids who make the teachers, not other teachers and not the administration for the board of education," he said. Yeo said he's leaving the Halton District School Board (HDSB) with a "real sense of optimism for the future. I sense that our new education director Wayne Joudrie has a real sense of people a real feel for people, not just the system, and I'm encouraged by the consultants who help with curriculum...talented teachers who teach other teachers." He plans to stay involved with the school board and as a member of its spectrum diversity community for "employees dealing with homophobia." He credits the board's diversity coordinator, Suzanne Muir, for initiating this group. He will also become active in HOPE, the Halton Organization for Pride in Education. "I'll be replacing another teacher on its board in the fall." THURSDAY JULY 6 SUNDAY JULY 16 COME ENJOY ALL THE FUN RIDES INCLUDE Ferris Wheel Scrambler Tilt-A-Whirl Merry-Go-Round Rocket Race Tornado Umbrella Bikes Convoy Race Samba Balloon ALL RIDES 1 Coupon Only Coupons are $2 each or 10 for $15