The "School Daze: Part 2" Story

It was an ordinary day. Just finished my first project for Hugo Flora. Mr. Flora taught Industrial Arts at Millersville State Teacher's College. I was in his Design I class my first year atMillersville. Did some strange projects during the year, but the one I remember as being the most strange was the initial project. We entered class the first day and were given a piece of construction paper. We had to cut out twenty 1" round circles from the paper. Then we had to drop them from a distance of 3' onto a piece of white construction paper. Where ever they landed we had to glue them to the paper. Then he graded them on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best or an "A". He loved the way mine fell on the paper and I was off to a great start in his class. I excelled at my major, Industrial Arts. Had slightly over a 3.7 GPA for my major, but it was my other classes that brought the GPA down. Had to take a Chemistry class my first semester that I failed. Never took it over again. They let me take a gym class instead. Did great in badminton. Had to take a US History class my second semester. Failed it. Tried again a year later with a better average, but stilled failed it. Took it over again in my senior year, after I was married, and had a "B". Different teacher this time. I did well in my math and language classes and great in my physical education classes. Who wouldn't do great in tennis, bowling, softball, and the badminton course. I had many favorite teachers during my 4 1/2 years at Millersville. All were in the IA department. Mr. Kalfka really got me interested in Graphic Arts. I used many of his projects and teaching techniques in my class when I first developed it at Manheim Township High School. Mr. Eshelman, my wood shop teacher, was ancient and got his tie caught in the lathe one day, but I enjoyed working with wood and learned from him. Mr. Kauffman, the metal shop teacher, was scary and enjoy taking student's projects and beating them with a hammer if he didn't like them. I was lucky he liked all mine! Mr. Yard, my Architectural drawing teacher, wore the same tie every day for 4 1/2 years. Wasn't sure if it had polka dots or just so stained from food and drink that it appeared that way. He was very ruff, but seemed to have a tender mood at times. My all-time favorite college teacher though was Mr. Urban Monical. Tall, skinny guy about six foot tall who taught leather, plastics, photography and weaving. Took them all with him. Had an "A" in everyone of them. His classes would have students for all of the areas in them and he would coordinate a class schedule so he would spend 1/2 hour with every group. The guy was amazing. And, he made his own hand-made Christmas cards every year. I exchanged hand-made cards with him for many years, until he was no able to make them. I used most of his lessons and projects in my classes as well as the time scheduling when I had classes with both graphic arts and photography students at the same time. One of the things I learned most from him was how to budget time. My college days weren't as wild as some students, but I still had a great time and met many great friends. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.