Cathy Gohmann - The Life Of A Teacher And Book Lover.
Cathy Gohmann
The heart of a teacher never goes void in the mind of the student. For the mind who had the opportunity to sit under the heart of Cathy Gohmann, with her ability to bring depth and humor to every dynamic class, were left with more than just Shakespeare. Within her class she offered an engrossing educational awareness of a place in time, and if one listened closely the world opened up.
Gohmann’s love for literature began with her nose constantly in books as a child, a way for her to pass the time and her mother’s way of keeping her kids out of trouble. Like a book should, it began to open her imagination and introduce her to differing views. When brought to her mother’s attention, it was seen as an opportunity to cultivate and encourage conversations about the subjects.
“We actually had library cards from three different towns. Every place she went to run errands, we'd end up with a library card and she would have us go get books. Then we would be in the car reading while she ran into the grocery store or went and got prescriptions or whatever she needed. We were just in the back of the station wagon reading and so it was always encouraged and really not censored. If mom thought maybe it was controversial material she would get two copies she read it at the same time and then every night we talked about what we had read and the idea of fiction and how does that go with our religious beliefs. And so, you know, I was never told, no, you can't read that.”
After moving from Borden, Indiana to Wabash, Gohmann fell in love with the community and began her life long career at the same school she would retired from in 2024, Southwood High School. There she developed her lessons to use literature as a tool and not just another assignment. Applying lessons that brought to light the student's experience to enhance the layered principles. As well as allowing her classroom to be a safe place for her students to learn and grow. Key component? Consistency.
“They knew I was there. And they also, whether you get a lot of criticism about it or not, they knew I was consistent. I think because teachers see the bigger picture, there are some students who could not rely on any consistency in their home life and they needed to know that you were going to be consistent.”
Gohmann exudes excitement and encouragement for the next generation, anxiously waiting to see how they will attribute to the future of literature and beyond. As for me, I know I can speak for other students when I say you have impacted our lives with your generous consistency and acceptance. Thank you for being there and teaching us.
It was such an honor to enjoy a lovely cup of tea with Mrs….I mean Cathy, and morph this lovely interview into just a conversation between two book lovers. So, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, Lend me your ears,” and head over and listen to this interview with….. “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/.../here-in-my-time/id1858774701
https://open.spotify.com/show/5K9eZC25ipFZHlpiubNoAi
https://www.youtube.com/@HereInMyTime
Contact me:
Hereinmytime@gmail.com
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