Margaret Burroughs retired from teaching Senior English at Madison County High School in 1986, after nearly 30 years on the job
But she was on hand last month to share a couple of memories from those days with 50 or so fellow teachers at the first Madison County Retired Educators Association (MCREA) meeting of the new school year at their usual stomping ground – the Ila Restaurant.
One of those memories involved a “slight bending” of a rule of the day that said female teachers could not teach while pregnant. So during her first pregnancy, she just didn’t tell anyone for six months or so.
During another year, she went to the office, leaving her class on its own for a time, and when she returned, her students had all turned their desks around to face the back wall trying to play a practical joke on her. Unfazed, Burroughs simply picked up her material and taught the rest of the lesson from the back of the room.
Fellow long-time high school English teacher Linda Freeman also regaled some of her fellow teachers with a few of her memories, including a game she often played with students called “the circle game.” She and her class all sat around in a circle and answered random questions – from the silly to the serious and thought-provoking issues of the day.
“It was always a hit with students, since it meant there was no English class for three or four days,” she said chuckling.
The object of the game was to help her get to know her students and for them to get to know each other and her.
“It really helped me to get to know them in a different light, and for them to get to know me – sometimes they were surprised to find that I was a lot like them,” Freeman said. She says former students often tell her they remember the “the Circle Game” from her class.
Their shared stories, along with their remembered and continuing commitment to education is just part of what makes these meetings so enjoyable. It’s clear they just have a good time being together, sharing a meal and some relaxed fellowship.
MCREA – GREA
This local chapter is part of a state organization, The Georgia Retired Educators Association (GREA), which began in 1958 with 188 members statewide. Fifty years later there are 137 units statewide, comprising a total of 17,000 members, including the Madison County chapter, which has approximately 60 members.
Sally Bolemon, a former physical education teacher and coach at Madison County High School, is this year’s president of the association and it is one of her goals to see the local membership increase.
She wants others who retired from the education system to see what they’re missing by not taking part in this organization.
Member Ramona Booth couldn’t agree more. “Wonderful fellowship keeps me in touch with many friends I made during my working years,” Booth said “MCREA and GREA are groups where I have made new friends in the county and across the state. It also enables me to be a part of a network which monitors legislation affecting retirees – through GREA, we have a voice in protecting retirement benefits.”
Fellow member Melvin Johnson, who also serves as the group’s legislative chairperson, said the group’s main objective is to work with the state legislature to make sure teachers’ retirement funds don’t get “tampered with.”
“As for the social aspect; it’s very rewarding. It’s good to be with people who had the same career; we have a lot of things in common,” he added. “It’s joy to listen to others, such a Margaret Burroughs, talk about her teaching experiences….the fellowship, camaraderie and the food are all very good.”
The MCREA meets monthly, the second Tuesday of the month, September through May, with a special Christmas dinner in December.
Each meeting has a planned agenda and a program, which includes such topics as GREA accomplishments and goals, state legislators update on issues, learning in retirement, wellness and nutrition, health screenings, entertainment, silent auctions, parties, recognition of leadership, community service and many others.
The “entertainment” for the September meeting was a character named “Pearl Agmire,” (aka Renee McCannon) who told “tales” about her former teachers.
In addition to the meetings, the group is also involved in several community service projects. They raise money each year in order to offer one to two scholarships to high school seniors who plan to pursue a teaching career. Last year, the MCREA raised enough fund for two $750 scholarships.
Members make monthly contributions to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia by bringing in canned goods or with monetary donations. Other projects include serving as Partners in Education with the local school system and collecting eyeglasses and hearing aids for donation to the state humanitarian project.
“As our members are actively involved in their communities, we try to record the number of hours of volunteer service of each member and recognize that member for their exceptional service to the community,” Bolemon added.
The MCREA also realizes it is important to stay abreast of the most recent bills going before the state legislature concerning retired educators. “We want to closely monitor legislative bills to be guaranteed the same quality of benefits,” Bolemon said. “With our economy today, it is important as ever for us to continue to fight for continued improvement.”
All individuals who receive benefits from the Teachers Retirement System are welcome to attend, Bolemon said, emphasizing that the MCREA is not just for teachers.
The mission of the MCREA is “to unite retired educators in Madison County for fellowship, support, and educational/community service and to improve benefits for all retired educators through cooperation with local, state and national organizations.”
Nov. 2 is “Retired Educators Day” this year, and was proclaimed as such during MCREA’s October meeting by state representative A
