Editor:
I heard the story on the 7 p.m. news about Rayanne Charlie. I would like to add my two cents. I had Mrs. Charlie for four years in high school. Some years both semesters. Most of my favourite memories about high school were in her drama classes.
When I entered drama class in Grade 9, I was a shy awkward guy. With no direction, no identity. Well, she took this awkward kid and by the end of the first semester in her class, I had a leading (but not lead) roll in a play that was open to the public. By the end of my high-school career I could dance, sing, and most of all, act. Better than many of my peers. I give credit to Rayanne for helping me find my identity and thank her for playing a leading roll in helping me become what I am today.
Rayanne dedicates her life to her students, and gives them opportunities to explore. Her drama classes were a lot more than just acting and singing. There are many hours spent doing exercises to build trust and social well being. And when it comes to performance time, she goes all out. One year we did a Peter Pan musical, and Pan and the children had to fly. She contracted a team out of Las Vegas to come to this small town high school to set us up with a cable system so we could make people fly. Our show grossed enough to pay for most of it, but a bit of it came out of Rayanne’s own pocket. But to her it was worth it. It was worth it to make it real for her kids. Because the kids in her class are her kids to her.
Now, about the story itself, of my terrible experience playing kick the can in her class. This was a year end event. Something we all looked forward too. First off, kick the can is only as dangerous as the kids make it. If some kid goes nuts and tackles someone, than the kid goes nuts and tackles someone. If it were in gym class it would be considered a penalty in the player, not the ref.
Now the famed punishment for losing. She lets the kids decide the punishment. That’s part of the fun. I mean, we didn’t decide something like dumping vinegar and flour on our heads but that was probably because we were smarter back then and realized there would be a chance of getting it ourselves. But that’s part of the lesson of Rayanne’s class. The lesson here is don’t do onto others that you wouldn’t want done to you, and they learned the hard way.
I haven’t talked to Rayanne since I graduated in 2009. I still trust her with my life.
Yours truly,
Charlie Rensby