Faces of Charity Social Services

For more than 20 years, Sister Elaine Butcher has
given her kindergarten students much more than
the three Rs. She teaches her pupils at Blessed
Mother Teresa Grammar School ( formerly St.
Margaret’s and St. William’s) in Dorchester, MA,
how to resolve problems peacefully, reinforces the
message that God loves them, and encourages
them to be observant of the world around them. In
her words:

I have a peaceful classroom. I teach the children
negotiation, mediation and compromise. When
they have a problem, the first step is for them to
talk to the person they’re having a problem
with, then they find a friend to help. I’m always
the last resort and usually, by then, they’ve
solved the problem. These are life skills. I think
if people in government could do that, the
world would be a much more peaceful place.

At age five, children are extremely impressionable and I think it’s important to model for them really good Christian values. Mainly, they need to know there’s someone who loves them no matter what, and I teach
them that God will always love them no matter what.

At this age, kids start to be observant and I encourage them to look around and remember what they see. I think the more observant they are, the more they’ll learn and the more able they’ll be to cope with whatever’s out there.

A lot happens at age five, a lot of lights go on. They get so excited and sometimes I see things differently because of the way they see them. I’ve learned a lot from my students.

I love the kids. I enjoy teaching them and I love watching them learn. I see their progress and I see
what they’re capable of doing. Throughout the year, I try to help them realize their potential as
much as possible. But mainly, I just enjoy them! I say to myself that as long as I have energy and can
outrun them, I’ll keep teaching.

Catherine McCourt, now a Grade 10 student, has fond memories of Sister Elaine as her teacher.

She definitely cared a lot about us and what we did outside of school. My friends and I had a big
obsession with the Spice Girls. We decided to be different ones every day. Every single day, we
would come in and she would say, ‘Okay, girls, what are your names today?’

She was the first and last teacher to ever give me a ‘time out’. And it’s a good thing, because she got
me to be better about behaving in school.

Catherine’s mother, Michelle McCourt, teaches music, theatre and French at the same school.
Michelle appreciates Sister Elaine as a colleague, as a friend and as the teacher of her triplets and twins.

Sister Elaine really looks for the strengths in all of her students. She takes time to find out how each
student responds best, how they learn.

Sister Elaine is a wonderful artist. The children have learned from her creative approach, her
visual perspective on life. She also plays guitar and sings with them. And she really gets involved with the families, she’s a real example of faith to all of us.