ALKHOBAR, 1 December 2006 — The year I was 14, a balding middle-aged man changed my life. Mr. Saternous was the toughest, most demanding teacher I ever had. He taught ninth grade English grammar and composition. For the first half of that school year, the best mark I could earn from him was a “C.” Actually, no one in my class got better than a “C,” but for those of us who were college bound, getting a “C” was bordering on tragedy.
Saternous loved the English language and already knew more about it than I ever will. In that ninth grade English class, at the end of every week, for 18 weeks, Saternous wrote 10 sentences on the blackboard. We had 30 minutes to diagram those sentences. At its most basic, a sentence diagram shows all the words of a sentence and how they fit together. No student in that English class ever got all 10 sentences diagrammed correctly — in fact, getting even half of them right was a victory.
Saternous was a wily soul. He gauged exactly how much we were learning and made sure that half the sentences he composed for the weekly quiz were slightly beyond our capabilities. Passing the class did not depend upon scoring well on the quizzes. We all kept trying though as success was always just barely out of reach. Saternous had a rule that students who completed their homework assignments on time were guaranteed to pass the class. He wanted us to learn and not ever be complacent and although we all hated him for his “Cs,” nearly every student struggled to achieve. We never noticed too, that it was only the few students who actually failed in that English class, who were shifted to other teachers.
By the mid-point in the school year, Saternous was standing in front of a classroom of teenagers who knew the difference between a past participle and a predicate nominative. Then he began to teach us composition by exposing us to great literature. Later, I came to believe Saternous was most likely exhausted and probably in pain after every school day. Teaching a class of 20 teenagers to compose not only coherently, but with individual style and substance must have been a terrible task — especially as there was no gratitude from the obnoxious brats who were receiving this outpouring of attention, dedication and skill.
In the final quarter of my year with Saternous, I began to regularly receive “As” on my compositions. At a time when everyone was predicting that television would soon make the written word obsolete, I didn’t adequately value what Saternous had taught me. The truth is that by teaching me to compose, he had taught me to think coherently; a priceless skill. I must have had an inkling though that what I learned in that English class was important because I stole the textbook. I claimed it was lost and had to use my pocket money to pay for its replacement. But I didn’t care, and that book sits on my desk to this day.
One great teacher can create the opportunity for greatness in so many youngsters. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, on a recent visit to Saudi Arabia, stated that two core elements of his success in life were the books he read and the quality of the education he received in his formative years. This is why the passing of Raymond Bruce Hudson, principal, International Schools Group Dhahran Elementary/Middle School (DEMS), must not go by without notice.
For more than two decades, Hudson and his wife Norma, taught at international schools in the Kingdom. Students in Asir, Jubail and Dhahran, were all encouraged to succeed by this intelligent, witty man who brought into the classroom a sense of fun coupled with a drive toward excellence.
“It bothered him when someone was not quite as successful as he believed he or she could be,” said Norma Hudson, at a ceremony celebrating her husband’s life. “He loved it when progress was made.”
The teaching day did not end when the Hudsons went home in the evening. The couple, married 34 years, would talk about their students at supper. Hudson was always sharing stories about the day’s events with his family and he spent a large amount of his personal time planning the next wacky scheme to challenge his students.
Don’t even imagine that there is any disrespect in claiming that Hudson delighted in dreaming up the zaniest of ideas to motivate the youngsters in his care. His head was frequently used for more than just thinking. In recent years, as rewards for top achievement, students shaved off Hudson’s hair, dyed his hair pink and even mixed a cake, ingredient by ingredient, on top of his head. Hudson did whatever was needed and more, to inspire his students to reach higher in learning and life.
Even in the most difficult times, when there was frightening violence in our community, Hudson was always there bright and early in the morning at the school gate, greeting the students by name, joking with them in his booming voice and banishing their fears with his easy, infectious laughter. He worked hard too at obtaining more resources for DEMS. Early childhood education, English as a Second Language (ESL), music, sports and information technology were areas that received increased focus while Hudson was principal of DEMS. Most recently, Hudson helped to establish a center at the school to provide skilled instruction for special needs students.
The DEMS principal also had a firm belief that there was much more to learn at school than the curriculum. DEMS students were expected to treat each other with respect. Rather than being suppressed, differences among the students and teachers in regards to religion and ethnicity were embraced and accommodated. Hudson equated diversity with empowerment and DEMS students were shown that it is possible to live at peace in a global village.
Hudson actively participated in nearly every event at DEMS. That is why it was heartbreaking two weeks ago to enter the school’s auditorium, filled with hundreds of people who admired this teacher so much, and find of course, that he wasn’t there. Bruce’s wife and his daughter Carrie, were present at the Tribute ceremony and they received condolences with grace. Norma Hudson will continue as the superintendent of ISG and Carrie is in her senior year at Dhahran High School. Son Ryan attends Colorado State University.
At the Tribute ceremony for Hudson, there were so many kind words said and so many sad tears shed. A slideshow made up of photographs from happier days, reminded everyone how much Hudson had loved his life and how many people had been invited to share it with him. During an interlude near the end of the Tribute, Sayler Craig and Dave Fuglie played a light tune to bring some relief from the somber mood which had overtaken the participants. A pre-school student sitting near the musicians began to clap out a beat. An adult quickly quieted him. That was a mistake. In fact, the child did what we all should have done at that moment. We should have raised our hands in joyful spirit as thanks for the gift that was teacher Raymond Bruce Hudson.
