Reflection #39 (Only 1037 to go!): Finally!

           I officially retired as a full-time teacher in 2004, but I still love teaching, so for the last 6 years I have taught an "Intro to Algebra" class to in-coming freshmen.
         This summer was the best. In terms of my enjoying the classes, these kids were super. Oh, they ran the usual gambit of more or less talented, more or less committed to learning, and stronger or weaker math backgrounds, but in terms of spirit and personalities, they were second to none. If it weren't for the drive to and from school each day, I could have stayed with them all year.
          The course is designed for students whose parents feel they could use a little bolstering in their skills. Truth be told, there are more reasons for why a student is enrolled into the class, but that is the aim of the course.
         Occasionally, someone will ask me if kids are harder to teach now than they were in previous decades. NO! But the culture is different. Earlier in the summer, Matt Walsh, class of '64, was reminiscing about how Carmen Pintozzi would walk up and down the aisle in the classroom and give a "love-tap*" with his St. Norbert's class ring to the top of an "unruly" student‘s head. (*not Matt's word.) Matt claims that his skull still has imprint from that ring. I'm guessing that he was exaggerating for dramatic effect...but maybe not.
        An advantage to my being an “old-timer” is that I have a pretty good handle on what the in-coming freshmen need to know going into Algebra I, and I believe I can help.


On the other hand...

             I was told once that the per cent of our strength and energy that it takes to get out of a chair is approximately the same as the decade of our age; that is, since I am 73 years old, it takes about 70% of my energy to get up from a chair. (I'm not sure if that takes into account the volume of the grunt that accompanies such an effort.) I don't know if that's true, or how accurate the per cent is, but I will generalize that to say, whatever the correct fraction is, it holds for every activity that I under take...including coming to school to teach each summer.
          I live near Joliet, and each summer morning for the last 6 years, I have left the house at 5:30 am. and driven for an hour or so to get to school. This is NOT a complaint. Did I not say, "I love teaching?" However, since everything that I do takes a greater per cent of my allotted energy than it did when I was a young man, at the end of each summer I wonder if that will be the last year. We'll see!

            Now for the "wellness" up-date: I'm sure by now that you are aware that Mr. Raispis had an accident and has a long recovery ahead. Happily, he's well on his way. But, at 85 years old, it is a very slow process. Over the last couple of years, Frank has been "impatient" with the limiting effects of his physical condition, but at least he could get to school to tutor, and he could show up at special events involving alumni. Just imagine how frustrated he is now, mostly lying on his back, and occasionally sitting in a chair. Keep him in your prayers.
            On your prayer list, add Jim Connelly. He experienced a health problem, happily not life threatening, a few weeks ago, but he also has a lengthy recovery ahead of him. Jim is in his late 70's, and, as with Frank, his recovery time does not coincide well with his personal schedule.
                Lord willing, a few weeks...or months...from now, I'll be able to report that all are back to normal.

Reflection #38 (Only 1058 to go!): What a month!!!

     I have been "lax" in posting my blog for the last month. My excuse: This has been a very busy and very stressful month. Besides teaching summer school, I attended three graduations, two of my grandchildren's and the Ignatius graduation.
     At the Ignatius graduation, I was honored to have received an award from the school, celebrating my 50 years of service. As a part of the honor, I was allowed to give a short speech, and it seemed to be well received. Anyone that knows me, knows how much I love to speak, but this certainly added to what made the month "busy and eventful".
     I was going to take the easy route and post my speech as my next blog, but Ryan Bergin beat me to it. He posted the speech on the Ignatius web-site. The theme was to encourage the graduates, as they go through life, to think for themselves. There is no shame in making a mistake or having an incorrect opinion, as long as you assess your thoughts, and correct the flaws when they are discovered. For the poor soul who gets taken in by some slick, smooth talking "snake oil salesmen", then spends time and effort trying to justify his error, there is no honor.
     I already mentioned that, after the Jubilarian Mass and reception, Frank and I visited Joan Terracina, the former assistant to several of the school's treasurers in the second half of the 20th century. I've made it a point to either call her or visit her just to make sure that she knows that she is not forgotten. FYI, she's doing well in her retirement. She needs a little help getting around, but at a "fine" age, she's good.
     Last week, Wednesday, June 27, was the annual Ignatius Golf outing which honoed Joe Gentile for his tremendous support of our school.
     The stressful part: The big (and bad) news at school is that Frank Raispis fell and hurt himself. For the two days following the fall, he was doing well, but he had broken some vertabra in his neck and they had to be surgically repaired. Immediately afterwards, he had a very serious reaction to the surgery itself, and confined to lying on his back for about four weeks with some pretty heavy doses of meds.
     Happily and thankfully, he is now in a rehab facility and receiving therapy. At 85 years old, Heaven only knows how long his complete recovery will take, but at least he’s on the mend.

     I’ve got a few other blog topics lined up for the near future. One is a blog that Dr. Jane Delaney wrote while on a working trip to China. The other was prompted by Maria Dunne, class of ’83. Maria’s email to me reminded me that I had wanted to tell about the experience of going from an all-boys school to co-ed.

>Well, I've got three more weeks of teaching, so I may be a little sluggish yet again. I fully intend to procrastinate, but I'll do that tomorrow.