The Kingwood story with legs. Houston Chronicle joins in on reporting this Kingwood story that likely says more about our young children than about Kingwood proper. One can only hope that other some of the national outlets give this positive story more exposure.
Many times we give people coverage for having overcome a drug problem or some previous bad act. For those who have done things right all along there never seems to be a reward. Think about this. That recovery from bad acts seem to be rewarded more so by our mainstream media than good acts or good behavior may be causal in the denigration of our society. Who knows, it may be even increase bad ad acts in seek of the satisfaction of a possible redemptive reward.
Just maybe Oprah Winfrey, Helen Degenerous, and others will give these kids some coverage to show America that good in fact is rewarded.
Kingwood High students stand up for Mr. Love
By LISA FALKENBERG, HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Updated 11:28 p.m., Thursday, November 24, 2011
Douglas Love, 88, shows off a few of the crazy hats he’s been known to wear at Kingwood High School.
One of the most popular dudes on the Kingwood High campus wears hearing aids, trifocals, pants that ride high rather than low, and is prone to expressions like "bull corn."
Adoring students say they can’t imagine the halls without their favorite substitute teacher, Douglas Love, who, at age 88, has spent nearly a quarter-century imparting words of wisdom and second-hand lesson plans to generations of teenagers.
His quick wit and quirky sense of humor transcend the decades. He dons crazy hats and wigs on special days, one featuring a stuffed turkey for Thanksgiving, and a blue wig with curlers on "Pajama Day." He’s at sporting events, band concerts and plays. He volunteers at the greeter’s desk, and shows up for more PTA meetings than some parents.
This year, a student organization established a scholarship in his name. A Facebook fan page students set up for him has more than 4,600 likes. It features a line that Love has been known to employ on a few unsuspecting classes: "I don’t know if I should read this or not, but your teacher left me a note and she says not to worry; first period is sharper than the blunt side of a mashed potato."
"He’s not just a sub who was bored and decided he needed some extra money," says 17-year-old senior Charlotte Christian. "The fact that he cares for the students, it’s something that we really connect to. He’s become almost more of a symbol of Kingwood High School than any tradition or mascot."
So, when a freshman fired back a rude challenge to Love’s authority in class last week, telling him that he didn’t have to listen to the octogenarian substitute because he’d be dead soon anyway, students were stunned and saddened, and driven to action.
Through social media, they organized a response within 24 hours. And on Sunday night dozens of students and a few parents showed up at Love’s home to celebrate an early Thanksgiving of sorts. With boom box accompaniment, they sang the Beatles‘ All You Need is Love, and hoisted handwritten poster board signs declaring their love and appreciation for the old teacher.
"He’s a joyful person to be around. He’s not a crusty elderly man who doesn’t want to do anything except sleep and read the newspaper," says senior Jason Dayvault, who helped organize the pro-Love rally. "Whenever you see Mr. Love in your classroom, you know it’s going to be a great day, and not a boring sub day."
‘I was blown away’
A video of the event making rounds on the Internet shows a clearly surprised, awestruck Mr. Love greeting the crowd.
"I was blown away," Love told me Tuesday at his Kingwood home.
Kingwood High students stand up for Mr. Love – Houston Chronicle
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