„ By Lou HATTER

By Lou HATTER Kappahannock News Staff Writer ^bout 200 Rappahannock County residents, both current and former, gathered at the elementary , school Saturday night to share in the “ - celebration of Mary Botts - "• Quaintance’s 80th birthday. Testimonials came from many people whom she had touched during •^er more than half-century of educating Rappahannock County chil^ dren — and teachers, as was pointed out by Kathy Arn, who started her teaching career 11 years ago at Rappahannock County Elementary School. , Ms. Arn travelled from Virginia ‘ ^ Beach, where she teaches now, to be . at Mrs. Quaintance’s celebration. “It was my first teaching job, and for all my education courses I didn’t know how to teach until she showed me. It wasn’t a matter of lessons —she latched on to the drive and excitement of young teachers. She let us go — she never restricted us. “Any teacher fortunate enough to have started under her has had their whole career affected. And i,.i those teachers have spread that influence, as they move from place to .... place. I’ve taught in Albemarle, Madison, Manassas and now Vir, : ginia Beach. Think of all the children who have taken her lessons with them as they grow and move on. ij ‘ Mrs. Quaintance has affected many r. .. more people than even she realizes. “She was not just an educator — she was a philosopher. She taught an ...: outlook on life. She was so openminded. She ran a tight ship, but ...” Ms. Arn smiled as she recalled > the time she spent teaching in Rappahannock. “I had wood heat in my house, and she let me keep breakfast f cereal and my makeup at the school • so I could come in and get ready for • . class where it was warm ... On ' snow days she knew that we some! times climbed in the windows so that l we could catch up on our work. ; “She had to be in it for the love of j the job — that had to be her reward, j You could never pay for what she t did.” As an afterthought Ms. Am i asked, smiling again, “Please correct ! my grammar so she doesn’t yell at i me.” v - The program organized by Lucia ;» Kilby and MC’ed by Ray Snead in< eluded remembrances — many hu%, morous in hindsight but probably »’ not so funny at the time to those who ^ ■ found themselves on the wrong side J of the veteran elementary school j! principal. t ,, 0. A. Norton, former superinI . tepden^of the Rappahannock-War§ ren consolidated school district, 5j recalled thO-occasiOn when the state • first began mandating additional £ classes, along with the accompany\ ing paperwork, beyond the tradi