The Passing of a Legend

Pin It “Teachers never die. They live in your memory forever. They were there when you arrived, they were there when you left. Like fixtures. Once in a while they taught you something, but not that often. And, you never really knew them, any more than they knew you. Still, for a while, you believed in them. And, if you were lucky, maybe there was one who believed in you.”

- Kevin Arnold

The Wonder Years

When I was in high school there was a teacher I absolutely loved; her name was Mrs. Frizzell. She was the type of teacher that every student needs to have during the transitionary period of life when their self-worth is in a precarious place, and they find themselves searching – trying to discover who they really are.

This was me.

Mrs. Frizzell was my Drama and English instructor; she was probably the teacher in high school who made the biggest impact on my life – helping to shape me into the person I am today. In fact, it wasn’t all that long ago that I was thinking about Mrs. Frizzell, and I decided that I needed to contact her. I wanted to let her know the influence she’d had on my life, and tell her how she’d helped me to come out of my proverbial shell and spread my wings while I was a student in her classes…

And yet, I hadn’t talked to her in years.

Senior Session - Jake

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Senior Session - Gerb's Eldest Mancub

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I have been doing so poorly lately at putting up photography sessions. I'll try to do better in the future.

Notice I said 'try.'

It's strange to think of this young man - once the sixth grade boy who lost his chair for nearly three weeks in my classroom six years ago - who is now a graduating senior...

The years seems to meld together.

If you wanted to know more about how amazing his mother, Gerb, is, you can find out more about her here. If you wanted to know more about broccoli and me, you can do so over at Four Perspectives...after all, I'm posting over there today...however, if you were simply feeling adventurous, you could always just click here just because.

Moments with Joey - 1999

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SCENE 1, INTERIOR. MORNING, HALLWAY. The class is coming into the school after the morning bell. As they pass through the doors, they are warmly greeted by their teacher.

TEACHER: Put some smiles on those faces because today we’re going to party like it’s 1999!

[One of the boys lags behind his classmates with a bemused expression on his face].

JOEY: Mr. Z, we’re going to party like it’s 1999?

TEACHER: Yep.

JOEY: Why 1999?

TEACHER: It’s actually an eighties song reference.

[Pause].

JOEY: Oh, I thought it was because it was the year I was born.

TEACHER: Hmmmm…so would this mean it would actually be a party, or a punishment?

[The boy thinks for a second].

JOEY: Better bring on the tears, Mr. Z.

[Fade to black].

Gettin' A Life...

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If you’ve followed this blog for a year or more, the ad above might look familiar…

You see, every year I challenge my class; I challenge them to turn off their TVs sets, video games, and all gaming systems along with abstaining from attending movies for one full week. In the place of these electronic diversions, I challenge them to spend more time with others: playing outside, reading, writing, and enjoying the company of their friends and families.

We call this the “Turn off the TV and Get a Life” challenge—an idea I picked up a few years ago from John Bytheway. This will be the 10th year of my class taking this challenge, and the great thing is this challenge has now spread to the entire fifth grade at my school.

However, what I’d like to know is if you’d like to take part in the challenge with us.

Would you do it?

Could you do it?

One full week devoid of video games, movies, and all forms of television…

Now, I’ll be honest with you…there are a few day when I come home from school, beaten and tired – wanting nothing more than the brainless eye-candy of the tube, but for this week, no matter how badly I want to watch a movie, I won’t.

Those students at my school who are successful with this endeavor, we will celebrate their accomplishment on Friday next week with a par-tay. So, what IS the party? It will be afternoon fraught with board games, teamwork activities, and things one can do without the aid of a television or any type gaming system.

If you are successful, you are more than welcome to join our entire fifth grade at our celebration; whether it is with us physically in our classroom—or from afar in spirit.

So, now comes the big question…will you do it?

Waiting for Superman

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This morning I awoke—not to my alarm, but nearly an hour earlier—to the throbbing pain in my skull. My head was pounding, and it felt like someone had been using my brain as a punching bag.

In fact, do you remember that scene from The Wrath of Kahn? You know, the one where Kahn puts that little worm into Chekov’s ear and it burrows its way into his brain?

Yeah, you could say that it felt something like that.

Media of the Week - Validation

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I posted over at 4p today; if you haven't had the opportunity, I'd recommend heading over there first and then coming on back here...