Rudolf K.F. Zeitlhofer
Dear sir:
The recent tragic passing of Joyce Cunningham has been duly noted.
Joyce was the driving force in the community behind the new public library. Our community owes her a great debt of gratitude for her perseverance in overcoming so many obstacles.
What has not received as much attention was Joyce’s contribution to our public schools.
She taught for 31 years at Fort Frances High School. She was first an outstanding English teacher. Many of her students remember vividly how much they were able to learn from her.
For the last 13 years, she was the teacher-librarian. Joyce knew that research has demonstrated an effective school library program is directly tied to student achievement.
When the opportunity for a new school came along, Joyce was determined that it include a library worthy of our students. She used her expertise, combined with her determination, to take the original architect’s design and make it truly a learning centre of which any school could be proud.
She acknowledged the great tradition of teacher-librarianship at Fort Frances High School by ensuring the new library was named in honour of Alice Morrison Widurski, who had been the teacher-librarian for 36 years.
Unfortunately, Joyce’s legacy at Fort Frances High School has not lived on. The library teaching program has been discontinued and the staff sent away.
The library is now an adjunct of the elementary central library. It has been reduced in size to create storage space and office space for other departments.
No school board administrator or trustee ever has been able to explain why Joyce’s legacy at the high school has been trashed.
Joyce understood that “At the heart of any great school, you will find a great library. At the heart of any great library, you will find passionate individuals who understand the true scope of their position as a teacher-librarian.”
As a teacher, Joyce was such a passionate person. She was dedicated to her students.
It’s important we also remember her in that way.
Yours truly,
Rudolf K.F. Zeitlhofer
Fort Frances, Ont.
