Thoughts from Mr. Purvis

From the Heart

It was Sunday evening and Chuck and I were watching the Tonys when I began checking my emails.

Oh. My. Goodness.

Tucked in between ads and blogs was an email from Mr. David Purvis.

It began with, “Old English teachers like me are not supposed to be at a loss for words, but that is pretty much what I am after reading your kind words you had to say in your article published in the Hamilton County Reporter.”

You see my friend, Treva Marcum, had called him and his wife to tell them to read what I had to say in the HCR.

He let me know that he was proud of me. He said that he remembered me as a bright student who made his job as a teacher both a privilege and a joy.

After reading his words I felt like I had just been given an A+ by a teacher who had made such an impact on my life.

I had so much feedback to the article about Mr. Purvis. I knew how I felt about him but I had no idea how many people had been influenced by his gift of teaching. Apparently, he didn’t either.

One gal wrote that he had to be on the list of one of the greatest teachers of all time at Noblesville High School. Another wrote that he was such a blessing in her life … at the exact moment she needed it. So many others wrote to me on Facebook that he was their favorite teacher.

It was in the late 60s and early 70s that I sat under the teaching of Mr. Purvis, and yet what he taught me still influences my writing. As Mr. Purvis wrote, “A teacher’s influence never ends. That I may have influenced you means so much.”

He wrote to me about his students: “Without their wonderful intellect, enthusiasm and kind acceptance, any preparation and effort on my part in the classroom would have been to no avail. You all blessed my life.”

Mr. Purvis said to give his love to all his former students.

I shared with him my dream to someday write a book. He encouraged me to do so.

He also said that “Mr. Purvis” seems like a strange reference after all these years but it just doesn’t seem quite right calling him David. The respect I had for him so many years ago, I still have today.

You see it’s never too late to say “thank you.”  I’m so glad I had the opportunity to do so.

Thank you Mr. Purvis for teaching with such passion and enthusiasm that I have been able to carry on with what I learned some 50 years later. It was great to catch up with you.

As you said … a teacher’s influence never ends.