"When I was severed from the school, I knew I
had lost a relationship of infinite and timeless value, and one that I would
never know again." (Conroy, 2006, p.318)
I
could imagine the surprise that Conroy encountered with he found out that he
would not return to the island for the next school year. It is sad that a
teacher who had worked so hard to help the academic growth of the children of
the Yamacraw Island was dismissed from his position. Mrs. Brown wanted to see
Conroy gone from the school. Conroy, despite the challenges he had on commuting
to the island still never took his frustration out on the children. Mrs. Brown
was constantly beating the children and dominating over their every word. The
parents and the people on the island knew that Conroy was needed and wanted on
the island. They formed a petition telling about why Mr. Conroy was late and how
he was wanted by the children. Conroy's teaching impacted not only the children
but the whole island. "When I was severed from the school, I knew I had
lost a relationship of infinite and timeless value, and on that I would never
know again. (Conroy, 2006, p.318) Conroy knew that he had a bond with the
children that was irreplaceable. At the ending of the book, Conroy seems to look
at the situation that Mr. Bennington and Piedmont did not understand what and
how the people on Yamacraw island felt. These two men had pleasant homes and
lived in comfort, not realizing the uncomfortable situation that the people of
Yamacraw lived. He seen Mr. Bennington and Piedmont as nothing but racist
people. Conroy viewed Mrs. Brown as a tragedy being a woman victimized by her
own insecurity. Conroy felt that Mrs. Brown wanted to fit in to and to be accepted
by whites. Even though Conroy felt that within the year he did not impact the
quality of the lives of the children, I feel that he made a great difference. I
am sure that the children hurt losing Conroy as much as Conroy hurt losing
them.
Conroy, P. (2006). The Water Is Wide. New York, NY. Bantam Dell.
I also felt very saddened when Conroy could no longer return to Yamacraw Island or to teach in general. He cared so much about not only the student’s learning but also their wellbeing. He went to great trouble to make it possible for them to have new experiences and to have a change in their lives. I was very disappointed because there are not many teachers like this and he got fired. It was a tragedy to Conroy to lose this connection with the Yamacraw community because he had invested so much into their lives and was so connected with the people.
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