The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Southern Kindergarten Teacher Retires

Mrs. Shimmin says Reading Is Important

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher

Were you able to read in kindergarten? If not, maybe you didn't have Mrs. Ruth Shimmin for your Kindergarten teacher.

For seventeen years in the Southern School District, an energetic, patient, loving mother of two, has been driving daily from Monmouth to Stronghurst, and passionately teaching 5 and 6 year olds.

Prior to that, she taught Kindergarten for six years at ICS in Monmouth along with Music, Art, and P.E.

Now, Mrs. Shimmin has chosen to retire after 23 years, taking advantage of the early retirement option that she feels will not be offered by the state again.

"If I didn't take it this year, I would have had to wait three more years," she said. "I enjoy planting those seeds in children whenever I can, but I am finding it is taking lots of energy, more and more."

The down-side to teaching she said was all the state requirements with the "No Child Left Behind" - the testing and paper work.

"I suppose it is important for a lot of school districts but not for our small community schools. We do very well."

There were some surprises for Mrs. Shimmin during the reading of school rules, when one student mispronounced some words in: "No running or excessive noise in the building."

Then, there was another time a student brought a shoe box containing a dead cat he had found under the porch. She was horrified when he opened the box and she asked if his mother knew about this.

"Yes, she gave me the box to put the cat in," he said.

Mrs. Shimmin found a plastic sack to put the cat and the box back into, and sent it back to his mother.

"What I've enjoyed the most," she said, "is seeing the growth in academics and social skills. I feel so good to be leaving a class that is reading so well this year. This class is reading the best of any class I have taught."

Mrs. Shimmin credits their success with the Saxon Phonics they have been doing the last two or three years and the fact there is only one Kindergarten Class this year. Mrs. Elaine Hull, who teaches Title I, has had more time to work with each student one on one.

Also, Mrs. Shimmin was given free rein at Southern when she came here. She has been able to have each child take a book home nightly and parents would help them read at night. It was really the start of their homework.

Ruth is now looking forward to spending time with her own children and two grandchildren, swimming at the "Y", traveling, and doing those things that never seemed to get done before.

Last Tuesday, May 17th, elementary teachers at Southern hosted a retirement party for her at Hotel Nauvoo. Stephen, her retired husband, who had taught high school math at Union High School for 33 years, was at her side, along with her friends and work associates from Southern.

Mrs. Shimmin received a "financial gift" that was collected from Southern's faculty and staff members in lieu of a present.

She is graciously sending the money to Nolan Kane, a teenager from Roseville who was diagnosed with Leukemia on Palm Sunday and now is at St. Jude's Hospital in Tennessee.

"It is in appreciation of my healthy kids and all healthy children. I can't imagine parents going through this."

Nolan Kane has relatives in the Southern school district. He is a nephew of Dan and Karla Bowman and cousin of Jeannie Kane who does Ruth's hair at The Antiquity.

Those who have seen the qualities of Mrs. Shimmin have expressed how beginning a child in her Kindergarten class was a wonderful way for a child to start their education.

At Southern's High School graduation, parents expressed how instrumental she had been in their child's education.

Some asked why she was retiring, saying she was their favorite teacher. Another said they were going into elementary education because of her.

"You just never really know for sure how what you do affects others, until later," Mrs. Shimmin said. "And most times, you never know."

"I know I've enjoyed my years at Southern, and it is good to see I am leaving a class that is doing so well."

It will be twelve years, before Mrs. Shimmin's kindergarten class reaches their high school graduation at West Central. It will be interesting to see the accomplishments this class of readers achieve, thanks to the encouragement and skills of one of our schools' excellent teachers.

Appreciation for her service, her kindness and her generosity was expressed at her retirement, and Mrs. Shimmin lovingly illustrated those qualities with her kind contribution for Nolan Kane and his family.

 

Mrs. Ruth Shimmin ending some of her final days teaching at Southern and reading with the Kindergarten children. Mrs. Shimmin says she has had volunteers come into her classroom which have helped in getting students off to a great start with their education. Besides Mrs. Elaine Hull helping through Title I, and Mrs. Sara Nimrick teacher's assistant, S.A.E. students from the high school drop in to help, and retired Kindergarten teacher Catherine Corzatt, a grandmother, and three parents come into her classroom for an hour and a half each week to help the children with their reading. But Mrs. Shimmin wants to stress that parents can make the biggest difference, and she encourages families to make reading with their children a priority over the summer. "It's one of the best things you can give your kids to help them be successful, and it won't cost any money - just your time and your attention."