Goodbye Mr. Bailey

Last night I recieved a phone call from my mom; and I have to say it rocked me to my core. My high school theatre arts teacher committed suicide.

I had the honor to be taught by Mr. Bailey all 4 years of high school. My freshman year, 1996, was his very first year to teach at Denton High School and I took Theatre 1 from him and then took Theatre 2 the next year with him. While learning under him, I realized that I was more interested in the mechanics behind the curtain than what was on stage. I wanted to learn the lights, paint the sets, everything. So he took it to the school board to create a Theatre Production class, and luckily 11 other students were interested and it was approved. So my last 2 years in high school I worked on all of the behind the scenes aspects of theatre. All under the direction of Mr. Bailey.

He was a very motivational and influencial teacher; with a very rough life. My sophmore year in high school, his wife and 2 of his 4 children were killed in a car accident. I still remember the day that he tried to come back after the entire tragedy. He was teaching class, and we were working on some workshop excercises, and some of us were in the auditorium working, and he just ran out of the classroom and ran to the auditorium and just sat in the front row of chairs and wept. I remember that so vividly because I had never seen a grown man just weep and cry...it was a very somber moment.

Mr. Bailey was one of those teachers that help make and shape you into the person have become. I wasnt the most popular kid at school, and I had a small handful of friends, and I remember 2 years in a row I didnt have any lunches with them. So at lunch I would go and sit in his classroom and eat lunch with him and then help him with making phone calls for the community theatre or help him organize the prop room. In those times of just one-on-one, we would talk, and he was so inspiring. He actually cared about me and my life.

I have to say, I have never had or known anyone close or even an acquaintance commit suicide before; and it's such a different feeling than when someone passes due to a car accident or natural causes. I feel so incredibly sorry for him that things got so bad and he felt he had no one he could turn to; I couldnt imagine the inner pain he must have been struggling with to take such a drastic measure. Why wasn't someone there for him, and care about him they way he cared about us as students? What was so bad that he had no way out? So many questions, and so tragic that such a great life had to end because he felt there was no way out.

Mr. Bailey, I am so sorry I didnt stay more in touch with you. You were the most inspiring and influential teacher I had. In this time of sadness, I still remember your smile and sense of humor, and always will. You made such a difference in so many peoples lives, including mine...you have no idea how much you are missed. I will be praying for your children, and you will not be forgotten...I will just choose to remember the good times. Good-bye my friend. Jessica Brandon (Class of 2000)