10/05/2023
I teach, therefore I am
My wife and I were on the way south this past Saturday. Then, the radio gave us Jethro Tull’s fine, ‘Living in the Past,’ and my mind flew back to some wonderful days. High school days that I relived this past weekend in Ventura. You see, we visited two of my Channel Island High School teachers, Mr. Wise and Mr. Varnava. They were both instrumental in my being what I am today.
I had been destined to the fields, as a vegetable picker, back in high school, having been counseled into voc-ed non-college prep courses during my first three years, two in Salinas and one in Oxnard. These two fine gentlemen must have seen something during the latter part of my junior year, since they took it upon themselves to guide me into white collar life.
Back then, students needed two years of a foreign language in order to be accepted by any university. I had never taken any! Mr. Varnava, a good example of crossculturing, is Greek, is the best Spanish teacher I know, and boy, can he sing. Anyway, I think I begged him, back in 1970, to help me fulfill my F.L. requirement. I couldn’t take his class, since I was suddenly college prepping my other subjects. He gave me a book, on Cuba. Told me to read it, analyze it on paper, and then would consider it. I did do that, plus many others, took a couple of exams, and after one semester, I had completed my two years. Did I sweat blood? You bet!
How do you reward such unselfish teaching work? You really cannot. But I have done two things. I invited him to visit me while I taught my first Spanish class as a Teaching Assistant at UCSanta Bárbara. He did, and he told me that he was very proud. I also have stayed in touch with him, and accept every book he gives me. I have them in my classroom, Room 910, so my students can use them.
Then there is my favorite cornhusker of them all, Mr. Wise. He and Mrs. Wise, a Kansan, who, by the way, is the best non-California native U.S. cook west of the Mississippi, and whose bell peppers I, accidentally painted black, went out of their way for me. These two exceptional teachers actually took me into their home during my senior year.
I have no idea what they saw in me…but, boy, am I glad they did! In one year, they molded me into college material. Heck, at their egging me on, I even applied for a Future Teachers of America Award, and won the darn thing! All $50! I remember it like it was yesterday. Why? It was the first time I gave a speech, in either Spanish or English. I recall saying that I wanted to be a teacher so that I could help other kids as I had been helped by my teachers at C.I.H.S. Maybe they liked that.
Somehow, I was accepted at UC Santa Bárbara, with everything paid. I still don’t know how that was possible, but I rode that pony for seven fantabulous years, to a double M.A., and all this after a Most Valuable Freshman and Captain of the Cross Team my sophomere year, and two years in ROTC!
I must confess, that I got so immersed into that life, which included a year in Spain, and another in México, that I neglected them often. I found them again, however, and, now, they having retired, we have kept in touch. As Mr. Wise tells me, he and the missus, are no longer spring chickens. Yet, he still kills me when we go bike riding – I mean, he’s got the biggest calves in the world! When we used to run, he’d run us to the ground. You see, he was my Cross Country and Track coach, as well as my Drafting and Wood Shop teacher.
Again, the only possible thanks that I could give them is being as good a teacher as I can be, and by staying in touch with them. They did visit me in Spain and México, and was that special!
Here’s a kicker…while a Student at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, I actually taught! English of all things! Two years later, while at UNAM in México City, again, I taught English! Why? Well, I needed a bit of extra money. I had found my calling, but in Spanish.
Kicker x 2! Nine short years after mom brought my siblings and I to our USA, I was teaching English in the capital of Spain!
So, why am I sharing? Well, in a weekend of remembering, it is important also to stay in touch with those who are special.
Too, National Teacher Day was just celebrated, on May 9. Missed it? Well, make sure you calendar in World Teacher Day, October 5.
One last reason why we’re talking about teaching. Maybe you have not yet decided what to do with your life, or you may be looking for career change, or you might know a youngster who could be a future teacher. In that case, teaching would be a wonderful career!
We need lots of teachers. How badly? Well, we actually have been recruiting Spanish teachers from Spain for a long time. Also, since the 1980’s, our Southwest has been recruiting teachers from Mexico for our bilingual programs and for Spanish. You know, I really am unimpressed by this. Why couldn’t we spend our money on recruiting efforts and expansion of our teacher training programs here at home?
Take Spanish, for example. Our homegrown teachers know our system, know our culture, and know our kids. What foreign teacher could do a better job? Let’s change this!
So, if we have to cross borders and the big pond for teachers of Spanish, you know that you should have a job once you have your degree.
Now, before you actually step into the classroom for the very first time, there are two books that you should read. One is ‘What the best college teachers do’ by Ken Bain (Harvard, 2004) and the other, ‘Teacher Man’ by Frank McCourt. Good reading.
All great teachers take special interest in their students, and when they run into someone with a need, they are like pit bulls, not letting go until their task is finished. Mr. Barnaba, Mr. and Mrs. Wise, to you, gracias mil! To everyone else, go ahead, touch a life…teach!
Thank you!
jfzc©29v.2006
Hayward on!
