It was an ordinary day. Searching the web, trying to find stories or articles on the art of teaching. Since my childhood I had always wanted to be a teacher. I can still remember sitting all my stuffed animals in front of me as if they were my students and I would teach them whatever came into my head at the moment. A few years ago, after retiring from my job as a high school teacher, I took up watching the TV show "Leave It To Beaver." It had been my favorite TV show when I was a young boy and I guess I never outgrew it. Just love to watch "The Beav" on MeTV every morning from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM. Two half-hour shows are perhaps the best hour of television in my day. Wally and "The Beav" are my two favorite actors on television today. I enjoyed so much "The Beav" in his elementary school class. Reminded me of myself when I was a child and going to Brecht Elementary from 1950 to 1956. Wasn't long after I began 1st grade that I became a teacher in my own mind as I took my stuffed animals and sat them in folding chairs as I taught them the same material I was learning in school. My 1st grade teacher, Miss Boche, was my hero that first year at Brecht Elementary. Then along came Miss Wenger, Miss Hoover, Mrs. Friday.....and the list goes on and on. I loved going to school and I loved all my teachers...except maybe Miss Hoover who walked around the room with a ruler in her hand. By the time I was in high school I just knew I would be a teacher one day. But...what would I teach? I loved my math courses, but I didn't score very high on my college boards. As a senior I applied to Millersville State Teachers' College in hopes of gaining acceptance. Then I got the letter inviting me to an interview at the college. I was excited as I sat in front of my interviewer. But, the bad news was to follow. I was told that my math scores weren't the best, but...would I be interested in Industrial Arts. Industrial Arts...you bet! Wasn't quite sure what they were, but I was interested. The followiing year I entered Millersville as an IA major. I had classes in wood shop with Mr. Eshelman and metal shop with Mr. Kaufman. Loved all my teachers and courses, but I guess my favorite was Mr. Monical who I had for Textiles and Photography. As a senior I began to think about where I wanted to teach. Part way through my senior year I was called into the Industrial Arts office and asked if I would be interested in filling in as a long-term sub at a school in York County. A teacher was ill and there were no substitutes to take the assignment. You'd bet I'd do it. Here I was, teaching wood shop and I hadn't even graduated. I received a long-term temporary contract in order to be a substitute. The more I taught the more I thought about my alma mater, Manheim Township. The following summer I obtained my diploma as well as an invitation to teach at Manheim Township. I taught 33 years at Manheim Township High School as a wood shop teacher, metal shop teacher, mechanical drawing teacher and Graphic Arts teacher. My favorite was Graphic Arts where I spent most of those 33 years teaching. Also started a class in photography of which I am so proud. A few of my photography students became professional photographers and still work as photographers. As I type this story, I await a summer picnic with all the Industrial Arts teachers I worked with for years. Great to get back together and talk about "The Good Ole Days." It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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