Teacher's Gotta Dance

By Phil Fishman

A memoir of the mixed tribulations and joy in my brief teaching career that began when I was 66.  If you loved Frank McCourt's Teacher Man, and the movie, To Sir With Love as I did; I think you will enjoy my memoir.  Lot's of commonality with those two stories.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Phil Fishman
• Release date: May 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393008378

Phil Fishman

I have been fascinated by science since age five or six, when I got a telescope for a birthday. At that point I was going to be an astronomer, but that changed when I got my first chemistry set at about ten. B.A. Chemistry Indiana University 1961. First lieutenant Army Chemical Corps 1963. Last assignment - Executive officer technical intelligence detachment. Retired in late 2002 after a successful career with a number of chemical companies including one that I started and a second that I co-founded in 1974 for recycling and disposal of waste chemicals. After retirement became a consultant and then a teacher. Now in my fourth career as a writer. My first book was a memoir of a brief teaching career that I began when I was 66. Title is "Teacher's Gotta Dance".  Second book was a rebuttal to Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth", titled "A Really Inconvenient Truth-The Case Against the Theory of Anthropogenic Global Warming". Third book was a novel, titled "Secession- A Republic Reborn". Here is a link to an interview: http://thepolitistick.com/could-states-start-seceding-from-the-union-this-author/  My latest book, available in paperback as well as audiobook is a satirical critique of President Trump, titled, Aren’t the Emperor’s New Clothes Grand.

Book preview

DEDICATION

To my sixth, seventh and eighth grade science students at Thompson Middle School in Alabaster, Alabama during my short stay there in August and September 2006, who were the inspiration for this book.  Also to the great teachers over the years who were my teachers and mentors; and whom I tried to emulate, but obviously fell short.  And lastly and lovingly to my wife, Sara, for her support and encouragement over our forty seven years of marriage; and now as she teaches me what it really takes to be a teacher.

FOREWORD

As I was reading Teacher’s Gotta Dance, I was reminded of a quote by Donna Green, which states, Our eyes see only the surface; our heart sees the world from the inside out.  She calls this type of vision heartsite.  I know that if you will use your heartsite while reading this book, it will leave you knowing what it means to see inside the heart of a wonderful teacher.  Even though his official career lasted less than a month, his legacy to those lives he touched lives on.

Terri Harmon

Mathematics Teacher

Shelby County Alabama Schools

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Prologue

Chapter 1  Why did I want to be a teacher?

Chapter 2  Substitute teaching

Chapter 3  Going back to school

Chapter 4  Interviews

Chapter 5  Success at last

Chapter 6  Orientation

Chapter 7  Planning and preparation

Chapter 8  First day

Chapter 9  Open house

Chapter 10  Third day

Chapter 11  My ED class

Chapter 12  Teaching life science

Chapter 13  Fifth day

Chapter 14  Best laid plans

Chapter 15  Reviewing last week’s test

Chapter 16  Principal’s office

Chapter 17  Revolving door

Chapter 18  Teaching density

Chapter 19  Second Friday

Chapter 20  Second weekend

Chapter 21  Resignation

Chapter 22  Lenny

Chapter 23  Teacher’s gotta dance

Chapter 24  Biology lab

Chapter 25  Last day

Chapter 26  Finishing up

Chapter 27  Farewell

Chapter 28  Letter from parent

Epilogue

Reflections

Notes

Appendix

A. List of some of the greatest books

B. Rotating schedule

C. Physical science quiz I

D. Life science quiz I

E. Physical science quiz II

F. Life science quiz II

G. Physical science quiz III

H. Life science quiz III

I. Weighting formulations for life science grades

J. Key for physical science quiz I

K. Key for life science quiz I

L. Key for physical science quiz II

M. Key for life science quiz II

N. Key for physical science quiz III

O. Key for life science quiz III

INTRODUCTION

Why is it that the classics and the truly good or important books of old don’t have introductions, forwards, and/ or prefaces?  (I am not referring to updated edited versions.)  Perhaps you would disagree, and I certainly don’t claim this to be a scientific survey; but I did a random sampling of some of what are considered the world’s greatest books and found that most of them have none of the above.¹ This does not include dedications and acknowledgments; since these are not directed to the general reading audience, but are read only by those to whom the dedication and/or acknowledgment is (or hope is) directed.  Michener in his books cleverly disguises his introductions by omitting the heading.  Maybe there is a lesson here.  If you hope to have your book on the greatest list someday, and you must have an introduction; just don’t label it as such.  Take a look at what many consider the greatest Book.  No dilly-dallying around here.  The Author just dives in:  In the beginning...

I’ll bet that many of you are like me in being somewhat put off by all that stuff in front of chapter one.  When I pick up a new book and encounter an introduction, forward, and/or preface; I more often than not pass them by and start reading at the first chapter.  If the first few chapters are interesting, I may then go back to see if I missed anything of consequence.  Generally I have not, and this merely reinforces my tendency to begin at the first chapter.

I have come to believe that if the material was all that significant, the author would have put it in one of the chapters, probably the first.  With that said, feel free to skip this introduction; although I do feel that it is pertinent and provides some meaningful background information, even while admitting that this judgment may not be altogether impartial.  Please, however, do not skip the prologue as you would be missing an extremely important element of this book.

This is the true story to the best of my recall of my three week career as a science teacher at Thompson Middle School in Alabaster, Alabama from August 28 to September 15, 2006, as well as background and events leading up to and subsequent to that period.  The only facts that I have intentionally altered are the students’ names as well as the parents’ so as to save any embarrassment.  I would expect, however, that the students that were mentioned should be able to identify themselves.

As you will find, there was a lot of joy and pain crammed into those three weeks, and Charles Dickens’ opening line in A Tale of Two Cities would be an apt description of how I felt at the time.  With the passage of time, however, the memory of the worst times has thankfully dimmed, leaving me with more memories of the best times.  You should sense early that I loved the experience and would not trade the memories for anything.

PROLOGUE

As I typed the words,

To my 7th & 8th grade science  students: ...

I was finding it difficult to see the words through my tears...

By now you all know that I have left and will not be coming back as your science teacher...

A pretty simple statement, but you cannot begin to imagine how difficult that sentence was to write...

I do feel remorse for having left  without a word to you, but I must  admit I took the easy way out.

(Not really easy as in painless or without difficulty, but easier).

Along with teaching his or her subject, a teacher is expected to teach character, and do it by modeling it.  In this I have failed miserably in my final act of departure without giving you a  proper goodbye.  I apologize from  the bottom of my heart for this.

And, although I probably don’t deserve it, I hope you will read this full note to get a sense of how earnest this apology is.

I suspect that most of you feel that the way you have heard about this means that I really never cared for you or about what I was doing.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Although I could not blame you if you never believed anything I said ever again, the truth is that I cared and care very deeply for all of you.  I feared that if I revealed my true feelings in my farewell, a crying session would result, with me doing most of the crying. I just took the coward’s way out.  Please don’t take this character lapse as a lesson; but only an acknowledgement that teachers are human, and make mistakes too.

As you travel the road of life, you also will be faced with many difficult situations.  I honestly hope that you may learn from my poor decision and make the courageous choice.  It will be difficult and perhaps painful, but I guarantee you the pain will be short-lived compared to the joy and inner peace you will gain, knowing that you did the right thing.  In retrospect, I made a mistake in thinking that I could teach, but the job was too hard for me.  Nevertheless, I would not trade the experience for the world.  The short time that I have been with you has been one of the highlights of my life, and I will never forget it.  I have a new first- hand perspective on the life of a teacher; and although I have always respected teachers, my respect has grown immensely since tasting their life.  You should know that your teachers sacrifice a tremendous amount for little earthly reward; and that their only reason for being teachers, is to try to do some good.  That was my sole motivation; and I sincerely hope that I have made some small positive impact on your lives.  You sure have made an impact on mine.

With that I will cut my ramblings.  I will end with a wish that you all will work to the best of your God-given abilities to do good, use your time wisely, and live a long and happy life.  I am proud to have been your teacher, and am looking for big things from each of you.

Sincerely yours,

Mr. Fishman

O.K.  Done!  Let me reread my words before I print 105 copies, but first things first- a fresh Kleenex box.  I had been working on this letter since 3:00 AM, and had gone through an almost new box; but I still have time to grab a quick breakfast, shave, shower, and dress and get to school before the students arrive.  (In spite of my sincere contrition, I continue to lack the courage to face my students at this early date.)

It is Monday, September 18, which is the first Monday after my three week tenure as a middle school science teacher.  As stated in my letter, I regret that I had to bring it to an end; but I have no regrets for having given it a try.  I absolutely would not have wanted to miss the experience.

CHAPTER 1

Why did I want to be a teacher?

Come, my friends. ’Tis not too late to seek a newer world.  Alfred Lord Tennyson

The above quotation would appear to most succinctly and appropriately answer my rhetorical question.  The irony is that the fear of failure often is a self-fulfilling prophecy; since that fear may prevent an individual from even trying. Thank goodness for men like Thomas Edison, who had a different perception of failure.  For Edison, each unsuccessful trial was merely getting him closer to success; since it was one less variation that he needed to attempt in the future.

Some may feel that my story is one of failure; but I do not.  I certainly am sorry that my teaching career ended so quickly; but I harbor no second thoughts on having given it a try.  I would surmise that most teachers dreamed of being teachers from childhood; however, that was not my case at all.  As a child and even well into adulthood, I would not have imagined myself standing in front of a class or, for that matter, any group of people much larger than two or three due to my extreme shyness.  On the other hand, I recall how good it felt to sit down after finishing any kind of presentation in front of an audience upon being forced into those situations.

Are you crazy?  I can’t tell you how many times I heard this question, or something similar, from friends and associates in response to my telling them