Audrey Lorde had multiple teachers that played roles in her life.
The first of her teachers to make an impact was Mrs. Baker the librarian. This instrumental teacher in her life taught her to read and in Lorde's words "Saved her life, if not sooner, then later (22)." The ability to read, Lorde describes as sometimes being "The only thing I could hold onto (22)."
The second teacher to enter Lorde's life was Mrs. Teacher. Mrs. Teacher seems to be very strict, and seemingly the worst kind of person to teach kindergartners. Lorde immediately notices that she is not given the standard items for learning to write, as she was handed a black crayon and a lookalike of her sisters music notebook.
As Audrey Lorde transfered to the Catholic school across the street, she was greeted by her new young teacher, Sister Mary of Perpetual Help, where her mother immediately gives the nuns direction to spank the unruly Audrey whenever need be. Lorde describes the new teacher as "Hating either teaching or young children (27)." And quickly divided the class into two sections, Fairies and Brownies.
Well done!
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