Back in the Day

It's a thankless job.

I know, because I had that job, and I had the rewarding version of it.

Educator. Teacher. Example. Influence. These are all words that we in the education system hope that we can embody in the most positive manner possible. I was an elementary school teacher (4th grade, Riverton Elementary) for a few years. I had it easy. Kids are pretty friendly at that stage. They are young, with almost no responsibilities, and no worries about whether or not they can get into college. At least back in late seventies and early eighties that was pretty true.

Teaching high school: now that's a different story. That is life in the trenches. Even back in the early seventies when I was in high school.

Hueneme High was a closed campus. That means students had to have permission to leave and come back on campus. More than that, we had men walking around campus with walkie-talkies and checking hall passes for security. We usually had police on the grounds as well. (This was before DARE, or any PR programs with local police.) It was not uncommon for knives, and sometimes guns to be drawn during the lunch hour. At such times a bomb drill was sounded, and the school emptied in less than one minute. No going to lockers or back to classrooms. A bomb drill meant any activities scheduled for the rest of the day were cancelled. A few of the other local high schools had riots (in one, the principal suffered a heart attack). We never had a full blown riot, probably thanks to the bomb drills.

It is a miracle any teaching happened at all, yet my memories are full of great educational moments.

Today I wrote a thank you note (via email) to my freshman English teacher. She happens to be friends with my in-laws, and I found her email through them. For three months I've been meaning to drop her a note. I finally did it. That spawned a desire to look at the faculty of Hueneme High in my yearbook. Here are a few teachers that have influenced my life for good (pictures scanned from the Hueneme High Voyager 1975):

Ruby Christensen. Ninth grade English. She made the study of Romeo and Juliet a delight and wonder. Shakespeare became a friend instead of a road block because of her. She never lost her cool with very rude and obnoxious students. She would just sigh and send them out of the room, or do whatever else needed to be done. (I have to say it is a little intimidating to write a letter to your former English teacher. Especially these days when form is so relaxed.)

Bennie Anderson. Social Studies. I had him for a few classes. He introduced current events into my life, and made me realize it is important to pay attention to what is going on in the world around me. It was in his class that I had to sadly admit that perhaps Nixon really had committed a wrong. I sooooo wanted Nixon to be innocent.

Robert Arbon. Physical Education. I never had him as a teacher, but he took an interest in my life and my college education. He was always an example of the highest morals. It turns out that he was an extremely great influence in Ray's life while Ray was in high school also. Bob Arbon was one of the first common threads in both our lives. Bob remained a wonderful part of our lives for the remainder of his life.

Nancy Carey. French. The reason I loved the French language so much was because I loved her as a teacher so much. Four years of French in high school, on to major in French at BYU. I didn't stay in that major, because the competition with returned missionaries who were fluent in French was too much for me, but I did get a minor in French.

Camille DeJong. Physical Education. I was never really an athlete. I learned to swim late, and joined the swim team after that. I was never very good, but it was good for me. Miss DeJong was the girls swim team coach, and a mentor for me. She treated me as an adult. She also was a wonderful example of being a single woman, and living life to the fullest.

James Laut. Biology teacher. His class is where I learned to listen to what a teacher says, do what he says, and be successful in his class because of it. He made science fun to a girl who doesn't like science much. I still don't care for the physical sciences (too much math), but I do love the biological sciences. (Side note: his son was in most of my elementary school classes, and I usually had a crush on him--the son, that is.)

Reg Welker. English, baseball coach. Living proof that cool and interesting do not depend on current eye wear styles. He made English fun. He taught great principles while teaching English. His wife died while I was in high school, and he just kept plugging along. Once he gave tickets to me and couple of friends to see Nanette Fabray in Irene at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion when he wasn't able to attend.

Lastly, and most importantly, Dennis Meyring. Physical Education. I never had a single class from Dennis, but he probably influenced my life more during that part of my life than anyone besides my parents. He was my swim coach outside of school, and was the high school boys swim team, and water polo team coach. He set high moral standards for everyone, and kept to those rules, no matter how it might hurt the team to suspend a player. We all respected and looked up to him.

In conclusion, I say thank you to all these teachers, and others I have not singled out. Thank you for rising above a thankless job, performing it to the best of your abilities, and never losing faith in the coming generation. It certainly made a difference in my life.