For me the biggest influencers were Ms. Dahl, Mr. Tuttle and Ms. Rhode. These were teachers I would interact with on a daily basis during seventh grade and become a lab aide for (at least two of them) during my 8th grade year.
Ms. Dahl was my science teacher. She had a British accent and was the one responsible for my love of science. She made learning fun and interesting by making it 'real'. It was the first time I dissected worms and frogs, investigated the strictures and fossils in different types of rocks, and saw how choices we made in our everyday life impacted the nature around us. We had made small terrariums sprouting seeds and taking cuttings from plants and getting them to root. One of our assignments (which wasn't too much fun for me) was to create a shadow box of bugs. Bugs - I could think of nothing better than to stick a needle through an innocent beetle that did nothing wrong other than to be within reach of a budding scientist. I captured bugs over and over again, but I always let them go. I just couldn't do it.
We had been given the assignment right after Christmas break (what winter break was called at that time) and it wasn't due until the end of the semester. I found plenty of already dead millipedes and centipedes in the basement as well as a few pill bugs but I was far short of the 25 that were assigned. My classmates brought in boxes containing butterflies, moths, lightening bugs and lady bugs. Of course, I waited until the day before it was due to collect the majority of my specimens. I spent three hours at the end of school that day at the creek. I successfully found 12 and was happy with the gracious 'C' that I was awarded for my time.
Ms. Dahl also attempted to teach me about pulleys and levers. I understood levers just fine (give me a lever and I'll move the world) but pulleys to this day just escape me. I mean, how could more rope make something lighter?
The science wing had a huge saltwater fish tank with a sea anemone, damsel fish and beautiful clown fish - it was probably tanks like this that inspired 'Finding Nemo'.
Because Science was my first class of the day, I would rush to get to my locker and then head to class to have extra time to watch the fish.
I dug a tree out of the area by the creek and gave it to Ms. Dahl at the end of the school year. I remember carrying it, in a plastic bag, to school. I wonder if she ever planted it.
Mr. Tuttle taught Social Studies. He reminded me of a mix between John Denver and John Ritter. He was cool and wore paisley-print jeans. He didn't wear ties like the other male teachers, instead he had a collard shirt and fringe vest. I probably would have learned more in his class if I didn't have such a major crush on him. Don't freak out - he was young and was in his first year of teaching. I sort of felt like the girl in the beginning of "Raiders of the Lost Ark", staring and hanging on every word he said. He was energetic and had more ideas than reading and repeating. I used to call it 'learn and purge'. Instead we gave speeches and made models to help illustrate what we had learned.
I remember I was assigned to do a report on King Tut. I went to the library to research, I wanted to do a good job for Mr. Tuttle. But as hard as I tried I could only find a King Tutankhamen. I read a lot on this other King, I procrastinated so long that I wasn't actually ready to present on the day that I was called on by Mr. Tuttle. I stood up and gave a 20 minute speech on everything that I had read - no note cards - just talking about the boy who would be king and the treasures they had found in his tomb.
It wasn't until I was finished and had received my 'A' that I found out that King Tut was indeed, Tutankhamen. It was also the first time that I 'winged' a speech based on knowledge alone.
Maybe there was something to be said for actually reading and researching information.
A few months later Steve Martin released his song and I saw it as an omen. There was some connection between learning and performance. I loved the fact that I could hold people's attention and provide information they were interested in hearing. Teaching was definitely in my future.
Civics class was something new to me, I didn't know what it was - but it was an assigned class. The teacher, Ms. Rhode reminded me of Peggy Lipton in the Mod Squad. She wore bell bottom jeans and long flowing blouses. Very trendy hair styles and platform shoes. She had attended protests for women's rights and was instrumental in starting a mock presidential election at school. It would be the first experience I would have in the electoral process.
She had also been bringing in people from different branches of government to talk to the class and give a better understanding of how they affected life and decisions. I volunteered my dad to come in and talk about his job - it would be the first time I would even know what he actually did - other than 'meat inspector'. When my dad agreed to give a speech I was so proud - and scared. I didn't want the kids in class to be mean to him. I was very protective of my father and I would have to beat the snot out of anyone that was mean to him.
On the day he was to speak to my civics class, I was called to the office to escort him back to the classroom and I proudly walked him to the front of the class and introduced him to Ms. Rhode. Then I took my seat and held my breath. But I had nothing to worry about. My dad rocked the speech! He told just enough gore to keep things interesting. I found out so much that day about how important his job was (a job they eliminated in 1986). The other students were just as interested and asked questions - good questions - things he could answer and explain. It was the first time I saw my dad in a different light, he was more than just a father. He knew so much and was so intelligent and calm.
Ms. Rhode was also very active in environmental causes. At the end of the school year She took a group of us to the Nicolet forest. She had planned a field trip for us to 'break trail'. I had no idea what that was, but was sure it would be cool. Ms. Rhode would never do anything that wasn't cool.
We got out of the bus and were told that we needed to grab a shovel and pruning sheers. The guide took us to a thick part of the woods and were told to cut out everything that would be in the way if we wanted to walk. We followed a pre-selected path that was marked with red ribbons tied to trees and cleared everything in between.
We worked all day and cleared a path long enough to make it to a fork in the woods that another group had cleared. I had no idea what I was doing. By the end of the day I was hot, grubby and tired. My hands had blisters on them and my nails were filled with dirt. I had scratches on my arms and twigs in my hair. In a way this took me back to the days of building forts by the creek. Maybe that's why the aptitude test came back 'forest ranger'.
As I write this story I think back and need to thank these teachers for being influencers in my life. Because of them I have a love of teaching, learning, and know the results of hard work. It's the reason why I continue to learn and advance my knowledge.
A few times every year, when the weather is nice and the chance for good photo ops exist, Andy and I walk the trails that I had helped clear. It is nice to bring this full circle.
No comments:
Post a Comment