note from a teacher

[Michael Yates]

Today I began my 62nd regular term as a college teacher.  I have three
more to go before I call it quits and start a new life in New York City.
In my mail box there was a letter from one of the students in my recent
prison class.  He thanked me for a book I had given another student to
give to him and for teaching the class.  And he apologized for missing
the last couple of classes.  He said that he had had to make
arrangements to get moved to another cell block because he was being
harrassed by his "captors." (I think he did this by feigning illness). 
Then he said that each Tuesday night when he heard the horn sound which
ended the classes he thought about what he was missing. Boy, this
touched my heart.  I have taped the letter to my filing cabinet.  Each
day that I see it I will remember that a teacher can sometimes do some
good in this world.

Michael Yates