Hidden Letter Written by Marjorie Barstow in 1986.

Great coordination. Great hands.

Inside my Safety Deposit Box, hiding among adoption papers for my children, I found a letter “Marj” Barstow, the first person formally certified to teach the work of F.M. Alexander, had actually written about me.

Marjorie Barstow Letter

If I remember correctly, she wrote a letter like this for 25 other apprentices.  Marj never ran a formal teacher training program.  She chose to bring about teachers much the way Alexander did before 1932 (which he did for 30 years). Marj used to love answering the question, “Do you train teachers?”  She had two answers she would give with a subtle grin on her face.  “No, she said, I don’t train teachers, I help people to become sensitive, and what they do with their sensitivity is their own business.”  Her second answer which I loved even more was, “No, I don’t train teachers, but some of my students have gone on to become very excellent teachers.”  Marj was a straight shooter.  She told the truth as she saw it, no matter what anyone thought.  She didn’t take the credit for us becoming good teachers.  She gave us the credit.  That’s humility.  And that is being a good teacher; a teacher who helps instill confidence in her students.  I am grateful to Marj, well beyond words.  I do my best to pay her back by doing the best teaching I can do.  And though my teaching differs from Marj (as hers did from Mr. Alexander’s) I believe I, and her other 25 apprentices all do our best to carry on Marj’s spirit.