How Lorde Described Her Teachers

"My first grade teacher was named Sister Mary of Perpetual Help, and she was a disciplinarian of the first order, right after my mother's own heart."

Lorde interludes with this strong statement about the catholic teacher she encountered during first grade. A strong testament on how she ruled the class with a "iron cross" making sure not to hesitate spanking Lorde at any chance she was out of line. She even sent a note home to her mom urging her not to dress Lorde in multiple layers so she could feel the spanking. You get a mental image with her covered in the traditional garb and the hint of her hair color showed through her eyebrows.

She also talks about Mrs. Baker, the librarian, whom taught her to read. She describes her with "immense, light, hooded eyes and a very quiet voice" when she approached Lorde the first to read her a book. Lorde had great respect for her because that day her willingness to read her a story was the first time Lorde felt the motivation to read. Even though Mrs. Baker was not a teacher she took the time to sit down and teach the author the importance of reading while she read to her stories such as Madeline and Horton Hatches the egg.