Page 14 - The Gonzaga Record 2004
P. 14
Maire was to the forefront in not imposing, but offering learning as a pleasurable
pursuit. Learning was exciting. Maire was, moreover, to the forefront in tailoring
learning to the needs and capabilities of those exceptional students who are partic
ularly gifted.
Maire had, of course, other preoccupations. One, which bordered on an obses
sion, was her preoccupation with indoor and outdoor shoes. For this reason, Maire
will never be offered honorary life membership of the Irish Association of
Chiropodists, given that she has preserved generations of Irish youth from the
debilitation of ingrown toenails!
While Maire never really shared nor even understood the importance of sport to
Irish males, she was happy to encourage healthy athletic pursuits. She even offici
ated occasionally at Prep. Soccer League matches, in which capacity she was no
blinder than many of our referees!
The range of Maire’s capabilities and the quality of her class-presence was con
siderable. When the Prep. School closed in 1995, for instance, Maire seamlessly
moved to the Secondary School, where she substituted for absent colleagues.
Can you imagine anything more trying than going into a room of fractious
caged adolescent boys, most of whose names you don’t even know, many of whom
you can’t even see, yet manage to keep them orderly for forty minutes - and do this
five or six times daily, in your sixties ... what a gal!
Maire’s attitude to teaching is a valuable model for all of us; the excitement of
inquiry, the joy of engagement, the social interaction, the celebration of achieve
ment. It is the Teacher’s capacity to blend these constituents into enriching and
enjoyable engagement which provides the unique alchemy which Maire, as a ped
agogue, possessed.
Despite not enjoying the best of health for much of her time in Gonzaga, Maire
never indulged in that least attractive of human emotions, self-pity.
Given her positive attitude and optimistic approach to life, we hope and expect
that Maire will enjoy new challenges and opportunities which will allow her to
look forward and not just back, at what must be a most satisfying and enriching
association with Gonzaga. Maire, may you truly fare well!
Daniel McNelis
Page 12
pursuit. Learning was exciting. Maire was, moreover, to the forefront in tailoring
learning to the needs and capabilities of those exceptional students who are partic
ularly gifted.
Maire had, of course, other preoccupations. One, which bordered on an obses
sion, was her preoccupation with indoor and outdoor shoes. For this reason, Maire
will never be offered honorary life membership of the Irish Association of
Chiropodists, given that she has preserved generations of Irish youth from the
debilitation of ingrown toenails!
While Maire never really shared nor even understood the importance of sport to
Irish males, she was happy to encourage healthy athletic pursuits. She even offici
ated occasionally at Prep. Soccer League matches, in which capacity she was no
blinder than many of our referees!
The range of Maire’s capabilities and the quality of her class-presence was con
siderable. When the Prep. School closed in 1995, for instance, Maire seamlessly
moved to the Secondary School, where she substituted for absent colleagues.
Can you imagine anything more trying than going into a room of fractious
caged adolescent boys, most of whose names you don’t even know, many of whom
you can’t even see, yet manage to keep them orderly for forty minutes - and do this
five or six times daily, in your sixties ... what a gal!
Maire’s attitude to teaching is a valuable model for all of us; the excitement of
inquiry, the joy of engagement, the social interaction, the celebration of achieve
ment. It is the Teacher’s capacity to blend these constituents into enriching and
enjoyable engagement which provides the unique alchemy which Maire, as a ped
agogue, possessed.
Despite not enjoying the best of health for much of her time in Gonzaga, Maire
never indulged in that least attractive of human emotions, self-pity.
Given her positive attitude and optimistic approach to life, we hope and expect
that Maire will enjoy new challenges and opportunities which will allow her to
look forward and not just back, at what must be a most satisfying and enriching
association with Gonzaga. Maire, may you truly fare well!
Daniel McNelis
Page 12
