A world without teachers | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

"One teacher even got a watermelon," Ms. Humbert said.

The two seventh-grade instructors at Magothy River Middle School in Arnold joined a small, festive crowd in the Cade Building on the campus of Anne Arundel Community College Tuesday to meet and laud the young winners of a countywide essay contest sponsored by the college's Teacher Education and Child Care Institute and Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

Scattered among the audience of family members, teachers, school principals and administrators were the college president, Dr. Martha Smith; Sue Lindsay, a member of AACC Foundation Board of Directors; Patricia Nalley, member of the county Board of Education; Arlen Liverman, deputy superintendent of county public schools; Del. Mary Ann Love, D-Glen Burnie; and Timothy Mennuti, president of the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County.

The nine student winners - three each from elementary, middle school and high school categories - were selected out of 500 entrants from county public schools in a contest that required them to answer the query: "What would the world be like without teachers?"

The top essay winner in each age category received a blue iPod Shuffle and second- and third-place winners received gift certificates from Best Buy.

"The essays were a homework assignment in my class back in March," recalled Mr. Cooper.

The elementary school essay winners were:

1st place, Nathaniel Anthony, 10, a fifth-grader at Linthicum Elementary; 2nd place, Leah DelRosario, 9, a Windsor Farm Elementary second-grader; and third place, Ryan Savage, 7, a third-grader at Rippling Woods.

Nathaniel nervously read his winning essay from behind a lectern set up in the rear of the room.

"The world without teachers would be like a bird without its mother," he said. "Now how could we grow into good citizens? In everything we do, we learn from someone or something. Teaching is a job that is needed to make our world a better place to live."

His favorite teacher, Melissa Meikrantz, beamed. Nathaniel was one of 65 essayists who competed from his school. Later, the Glen Burnie youngster, a utility player and catcher with the Greater Glen Burnie Patriots recreational league team, said he wants to become a professional baseball player when he grows up.

The 1st-place winner among middle school entrants was 13-year-old Adam Greene, a seventh-grader and drummer from Magothy Middle School. The two runners-up, Nicole Foggan of Severna Park Middle, and Sara Olsen of Magothy River Middle, had prior commitments and were unable to attend.

Adam asked the audience to imagine a world without teachers.

"A place where there's no structured way to learn to read, write, or explore the vast capabilities of the mind. Imagine a world without role models at home to encourage first steps, first words, healthy nutrition or social rules.

"Imagine a world where there are no coaches to encourage fair play, demonstrate how to play sports or develop a sense of teamwork. Imagine a world without technology, well-built homes, transportation and modern conveniences," he said. "Luckily, I've been gifted with a world where teachers are prevalent in all I do. I can imagine, because of teachers."

The high school winner, Kathleen Gruver, 16, a sophomore at Broadneck High, was on crutches. A soccer player on the Broadneck Recreation League, she injured her left knee during a weekend game.

Second place winner, Megan Edwards, 15, also is a sophomore at Broadneck and third place winner, Alex Downes, 17, is a junior in the International Baccalaureate Program at Old Mill High School.

In her essay, Kathleen said she understands the value of teachers, as her mother is an art instructor at an elementary school.

"Teachers not only provide their students with an incredible learning environment, but I know that I am lucky enough to have caring teachers that will do just about anything to help their students succeed. I have teachers who will get down on their hands and knees to help me learn how momentum works, and teachers that will lose their voice screaming correct notes at us, as well as teachers that are always just there to talk to and give helpful advice," the teen said.

Colleen Eisenbeiser, director of AACC's TEACH Institute, said "It was the first essay contest that we've done. The contest grew out of our continuing concern about the lack of teachers in Anne Arundel County, in Maryland and nationally."

Wendi Winters is a freelance writer living on the Broadneck Peninsula.