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.
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