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Mr. Michael Bennett
Bennett@smtexas.org
Michael J. Bennett serves as Senior Master, Chairman of FAC, Chairman of the John H. Murrell Awards Committee, Seventh Grade Sponsor, and President of Cum Laude. He was educated at Oxford and teaches beginning and upper school Latin.
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr13ap05-28]
IN HONOR OF MICHAEL J. BENNETT'S 40 YEARS OF SERVICE TO ST. MARK'S
SCHOOL OF TEXAS
______
HON. PETE SESSIONS
of texas
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Michael J.
Bennett's 40 years of teaching at St. Mark's School of Texas. I am
proud to represent St. Mark's in the 32nd Congressional District of
Texas.
Born four months before the German Blitz, Michael Bennett grew up
``in the East End of London, not the rich part, but the tough part.''
He attended the East Ham Grammar School for Boys where he skipped his
fifth year. As a ``Sixth Former'' or Senior, he was expected to
specialize in an academic area to prepare for the demanding A Level
exams. His father, understanding the importance technology would play
in revitalizing post-war England, suggested he study Science. But as
Michael recalled, while in Science class one day the Headmaster said ``
`This is not the place for you . . .' and he was right . . . I chose
the Classics and that has made all the difference.''
Michael passed his A Levels and was awarded a scholarship to study at
Christ Church, Oxford where he studied Classics and graduated with
honors, earning both a B.A. and M.A. He would later earn another
Master's Degree from the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury
College. Michael has also studied at the Vergilian Society School at
Cumae.
At the age of 22, he joined the faculty of the St. Andrew's School in
Middletown, DE as teacher, debate coach, and Head of the Classics
Department. Three years later, in 1965, he came to St. Mark's. During
his tenure at St. Mark's he has taught Latin, Greek, English, Debate
and Fine Arts. He served as advisor for the Trivia Club, the Film
Society, and the Junior Classical League. He was a member of the
Curriculum Study Group and founded the Classical Society that presented
plays in Latin by Roman playwrights Plautus and Terrence. In addition
to teaching Latin, he currently serves as Senior Master, Chairman of
the Faculty Advisory Committee, Latin Club Sponsor, Chairman of the
John H. Murrell Awards Committee, Seventh Grade Class Sponsor, and
President of Cum Laude. Outside school, he is the Opera critic for
Northside People.
Michael is married to Dena, a freelance writer. He has two children.
Sarah lives in Tacoma, WA where she is a child and family counselor.
His son Paul, an alumnus from the Class of 1980 from St. Mark's is an
attorney who lives in Annapolis, MD with his wife and three children,
Jeffrey, Allison and Annie. Michael proudly notes that grandson Jeffrey
is a straight ``A'' student in his Latin class.
I would like to extend my sincere congrats to Michael and his family
on this great occasion and wish him additional success as he continues
to teach at St. Mark's.
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