Monday, June 10, 2013
Mrs. Farrish was the principal of my school while I was in elementary. I remember her as a tall woman, with excellent posture, and a beehive hairstyle. As a child, it appeared that she stretched to the ceiling. "Friendly but Firm" was her motto of school. She ran a tight ship, but I recall the square dancing, the discing, and the Christmas concerts. Later on, when she had retired and lived at the lodge, she told stories of being unsupported by her male counterparts, and how difficult it was to be a woman in a position of power, back in the days when very few women were in the role of authoritarian. It must have been challenging to discipline boys bigger and stronger than her. I admired her commitment to education, her desire to propel women rights forward, and her courage during those times. It is with great respect that I pay tribute to this amazing teacher...a woman before her time.
