SDARJ Author

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
A tribute to Aimee Wiest
Mary Boyd
The Cape Gazette |January 18, 2022

The tributes will surely pour in for Aimee Wiest, and many will emphasize certain causes for which she was associated. The aspect of her character and personality most important, however, was her tolerance.

Aimee was not a virtue signaler. She did not object if others were, but she herself did not feel the necessity of requiring certain political views of others either by her demeanor, her body language or her comments.

Always open to learning, she saw merit in expanding her horizons rather than solidifying fixed positions. She did not look to be validated; she looked to learn new ways of looking at “old” issues. These are the characteristics of an excellent teacher.

An excellent teacher does not steer students to a particular point of view; an excellent teacher introduces students to the full range of experience and position, and assists them in how to question it. This skill of critical thinking becomes a lifelong habit and is the gift given to students by those who understand what teaching really is.

Aimee Wiest gave this to all she taught and, in addition, exemplified the noblest attributes to all she knew personally.

Mary Boyd
Lewes