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Peeler Knew That Life Is About Learning

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By STEVE OTTO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 16, 2007

Margaret Graham Peeler had it right. She still does.

There is going to be a memorial service this afternoon at First Presbyterian Church for Mrs. Peeler, who died Nov. 12. Among those delivering eulogies will be Professor Delia Palermo from St. Petersburg College, who will talk about her mentor and remind us of what a teacher should be.

She might even toss out a few "Peelerisms," those quick and gentle insights into life that Mrs. Peeler would pass on to her students and even her own family.

"Sometimes they would just be quotes she clipped out and would leave them for us to see," said her son, Ed, remembering a recent one about sticking with a job until it was completed that she left by the phone where everyone would see it.
Margaret Graham Peeler, daughter of Judge and Mrs. W.S. Graham, was one of us and she came by her scholastic bent naturally. In fact, her uncle, B.C. Graham, was Hillsborough County's first school superintendent, after serving as teacher/principal at Hillsborough High School back when it was operating out of a livery stable on Franklin Street in downtown Tampa.

Her mother, Margaret, taught at Hillsborough High and she followed years later, after graduating from the Florida State College for Women (now Florida State University). She taught literature and reading and eventually moved to Leto High School as head of the English Department.

That's where she was when Professor Palermo came looking for a job.

"I was a 20-year-old graduate and when I went in to see her, I felt like I was facing the Inquisition. I was sure I had muffed it until she stood and went with me to see the principal and I was hired.

"I learned so much from her through the years. For one thing, she was not only a great teacher; she was a student for life. Even as she approached 90 and was retired, she would be taking classes out at USF and studying a variety of things from philosophy to computers."

Peelerisms

She was a demanding teacher, but her students respected her and especially her nuggets of wisdom she called "Peelerisms."

"She was disappointed with the system that penalizes schools and teachers in the low-performing areas. She knew that it is in these schools that we need to put the best teachers and the most resources, not burden them with threats and penalties.

"She was so innovative, developing minicourses such as American Indian literature. She mentored and tutored at-risk students and for that won the Governor's Mentor of Excellence Award," Palermo said.

What She Wanted Most

"I think of her especially at this time of the year. There was a story in your newspaper about gifts for people, and it mentioned what you should be getting for teachers for the holidays.

"She always said what she wanted most was to be remembered by students who had passed through down the years; to let her know that something she might have said would have made a difference in their lives. I think she would be pleased if you asked people to do that."

Great idea. I know my wife, the teacher, would probably rather have a gift certificate to Bern's, but this would be a good time of the year to make a phone call or drop a note to one or two of those teachers you had back so long ago who made a difference in your life.

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