By Suzanne Schmidt
Staff Writer
LAND O’ LAKES—A local teacher made such an impact that even after his passing, he is still affecting students.
George Bastable was an English teacher at Charles S. Rushe Middle School and previously taught at Pine View Middle School. He passed last summer on July 4, leaving a legacy of reading and learning behind.
As a way to honor his memory, the student council, members of the Lead Literacy Team at Sunlake and the student council at Charles S. Rushe Middle School will have a book drive between now and Feb. 12.
The schools need donations of gently used or new school appropriate fiction and non-fiction books for elementary, middle or high school aged children. Books will be collected at both schools main office. The goal is to collect 2,800 books by the end of the drive.
Dave Estabrook, principal of Rushe, said he worked with Bastable for the last 8 years.
“He had such an appreciation of reading that he shared with others,” Estabrook said. “I feel having a book drive in his name is a great way to continue to promote the legacy of reading he left behind.”
Amy Ramos, English teacher at Sunlake, said the plan was always to have the book drive, but then the team decided to make it a memorial to Bastable because of all the great work he did.
“It is something they can do to pay tribute to him,” Ramos said. “We thought the book drive as a memorial for him was the perfect fit since his philosophy was put the right book in the right hands.”
One student who he made a big impact on was Jaeda Fennel, 17, a junior at Sunlake. She had Bastable as her 8th grade English teacher at Pine View Middle School. She was so inspired by Bastable that when she found out there was a book drive for him she decided to bring in 30 books.
“He was my favorite teacher,” Fennel said. “He was the first English teacher I had that made English interesting. He made me enjoy reading. He was really funny and no class was ever the same.”
Fennel said she will continue to read for the rest of her life and it is all thanks to Bastable.
“I like reading because it takes me to another world or place,” Fennel said. “I chose the books I donated because they are all books that I want to pass on. I want to share what I have read with others”
Bastable had a large collection of books in his classroom so the books collected will be going into classroom libraries throughout Sunlake and Charles S. Rushe Middle School. Melodie Oleson, media specialist at the school, said the drive helps the teachers get a break.
“As a rule the teachers are responsible for filling their libraries,” Oleston said. “The books are always paid for by the teacher. We thought this would be a good project for the team since we think literacy is everyone’s responsibility.”
Ramos said once all the books are collected the teachers will get to shop for the books they think will be good for their students. She said the goal is to get at least 1,500 books, which is one per student at the Sunlake and 1,300 books for Rushe.
“They will get to build their classroom library with their students in mind for free,” Ramos said. “He had 11 bookshelves in his classroom because this was his passion. This is a great way for the community to step up and continue his work.”
The books collected will be stamped so when future students pick up the book they will know it where it came from.
“We want books that will be read for pleasure,” Ramos said. “We are looking for books that are not normally assigned for reading.”
Since Bastable was a teacher to many of the students in the high school, Ramos said many of the sports teams and organizations have become involved in the drive including the basketball team.
“The basketball team will have a game against Wesley Chapel Feb. 2 where they will take a book for the drive instead of admission,” Oleson said. “All the children who turn in books will have the chance to win prizes like tickets for the next school play and giving sweatshirts and t-shirts from school organizations.”
For more information or to donate books, call 813-346-1023 or visit the school’s Web site at slhs.pasco.k12.fl.us.
George Bastable’s Favorite Books:
- Shane by Jack Schaefer
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
- Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
- Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
- The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
- The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy
- The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
- The Hot Rock by Donald E. Westlake
- The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
- The Giver by Lois Lowry
- The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy
- Lord of the Flies by William Goldman
- The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread by Don Robertson
