Guess what?
I WAS A TEACHER
I WAS A TEACHERI taught Secondary School (High School) Mathematics in Windsor and Fenelon Falls Ontario Canada over a period of 25 years. I also had a business of booking (i.e.finding jobs for) entertainment for 18 years. I booked musical groups (bands), comedians, variety acts, etc. throughout North America as well as some European and Asian countries.
Some that you may know / remember are Chubby Checker, Cheech and Chong, Martin Mull, Ann Murray and Victor Borge.
Anyway, that's 43 years of work plus I needed 20 years to grow up - I must be old!
As a result this page will mainly address the teaching aspect of my life since there is more stuff to talk about!
Teachers Corner # 1
Funny things that happened in school.
In this section I am going to tell you mine and I hope you tell me yours (click link at bottom). I will use capital letters only to identify them (which will be fun if they read this and remember)
As a teacher I had created a strict / relaxed atmosphere (you figure out what that means) in class. The kids had to show respect but WE said a lot of things to each other that were FUN.
# 1. I was at the board (Fenelon Falls school) busy getting somewhere with the lesson when one of the outgoing girls in class raised her hand. Realizing anything could happen, I said "Yes Melissa ( I think that was her name)", to which she replied with a very serious look, "Could you move your stomach Mr. Holden, I can't see the board. To this day I do not think she was trying to be funny but let me tell you everybody else did.
# 2. It was the same girl as above another day. I was wearing a tie (not my favorite one but it was ok). Seeing Melissa's hand up again I made the same mistake - "Yes, Melissa". Her reply "Mr. Holden, is that a RUBBER tie?" As usual the class went nuts.
It wasn't! Who in their right or ANY mind would wear a RUBBER tie.
#3. During the first days of class I got in the habit of saying (sort of jokingly) that "If you don't think you are going to like me or my class" then "go to guidance and try and change it". About the third time I did this, a grade nine student FR put up his hand and reported that "he had already tried that".
#4. One lunch I saw one of my favorites SF approaching my room. She marched in, plunked down a form on my desk, said "sign my thing" and hurry up I have to go. I did and she disappeared smiling.
It turned out that is was my endorsement for her running for 'grade rep'. Kids!!!!!!!!!!!
#5. I sent a girl SM to office one day and that meant she would be suspended. On the way out the door she said, with her arms up in frustration, "One day you give me chocolate and the next day you get me suspended, what is with you, I never know what is going to happen?"
The chocolate was for some good deed. She was fine two days later upon her return. Kids!!!!
Teachers Corner # 2
Nice things that happened in school.
During my last 10 years, I was lucky to have taught in a Windsor, Ontario school with a population of only 500 students who represented over 40 countries. Not only did they get along well with their peers, the feelings of the teachers towards 90% of them was a warm one. The students were happy to be in our country of Canada and tried quite hard in their studies despite a lot of them having some substantial roadblocks.
#1. During my second occasion (grade 10 general math) of teaching a girl from eastern Europe, she came to me at the end of class one day to say "I wish you were my dad". Then she left. It does not get much better than that!!!!!!!!!
It does not get much better than that!!!!!!!!!#2. I took the bus my last few years of teaching. One day on the bus during October I saw a grade 12 student MT that I had not seen for 3 - 4 weeks. I asked the simple question "Why aren't you coming to class?". The next day he was there and missed only one day the balance of the semester. It makes you wonder if it was possible that the question I asked (showing concern) was a factor. We will never know!!
Teachers Corner # 3
Things that maybe should be changed / worked on
'A'Last names in class
Last names in classOKAY, one funny story, then I want your feedback.
The principal interrupted my class by using the intercom one day in the middle of quite a bit of laughter. Since this was not the first time he replied "What's going on in there today, Mr. Holden". I replied "We are having a little contest - I am trying to go around the class and remember everyone's name". He answered "Mr. Holden, it's May" and did not address the reason for his call.
The really bad part was that this was before semestering so I had been with them for 9 months. To my defence - it was a big class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please respond here to the serious part of the issue if you wish
