Football Friday Night

This last Friday night I went to the football game. I was excited to try out my new camera lens that I bought this summer. The weather was absolutely perfect. Unfortunately I got there a little later than I intended, so I didn't get a chance to take as many pictures of the band during pregame as I had hoped. I did get a nice variety of photographs, however. I hope to put some of these pictures up on my website within the next week or so. I've always been impressed with the Franklin Heights' band. They work so hard, and it shows.

I like music a lot, but I am not a musician by any means. My mother was a concert pianist, and she tried very hard to get me to learn to play. I was more interested in being outdoors and playing sports to bother with sitting and practicing for hours and hours. Maybe if I'd had a chance to learn to play the drums instead of the piano, I might have become a musician. I’ve always loved to tap and bang on things ever since I was little. My mother never seemed to pick this up that learning the drums might've been the way to get me interested in music. Whenever I go to a concert that has a band, I always seem to be watching the drummer.

I haven't taken many photos at school in the recent last few years because I was a yearbook advisor for so long, and I took lots and lots of pictures. For several years, I attended every sport offered at Franklin Heights to shoot photos for the yearbook. I got a bit tired of taking so many pictures. But now there's been enough time, and I think I'm ready to start using my camera again.

Great Start to the Year

I have so far been very impressed with my second period class. I don't think I have ever gotten such a positive response as the one I received from the assignment where students were asked to simply write a letter to Mr. Mann and introduce themselves. Some people think that what makes a really good class is a super teacher. But what I have learned over the years is that the most important ingredient for a super class is the attitude that students bring to the class.

I remember a class I took at Ohio State University that was one of the most exciting interesting, and worthwhile classes I took in my graduate studies. I couldn't wait to get to this class it was so much fun and also so intellectually exhilarating. The course was about non-verbal communication, and it taught me so many things that I didn't know. My wife was also doing graduate studies at the same time, and so I recommended that she also take this course. After a week or so, she told me that she hated the class. I couldn't believe it, so I decided to visit her class.

What I found were two or three individuals who argued and disagreed with everything that the professor had to say. It made the class so unpleasant and that I could understand why my wife was not enjoying the class. There is a dynamic in any class that is going to determine the success of that class. To a large extent, the joy of learning is largely dependent on the cooperativeness of the students in the class.

About My Summer Vacation

I know that English teachers often ask students to write about their summer experiences. And if my students choose not to write on this topic, that will be fine. But I do think it is important to reflect over the summer months. I think it is important to consider whether the time spent over the summer was of any real value. Students often say in one circumstance or another that they're bored. I seriously cannot remember the last time that I was bored. I have too many interests to find myself bored. I enjoy photography, computers, reading all sorts of things, and spending time with my family.

Two summers ago I took the entire summer off. I wasn't bored -- I just needed more things to keep me busy and to feel that I was accomplishing something significant. I found that when I got back to school in the fall, I felt a lot better about myself. So now I teach some fun classes at Columbus Academy during the summer months. This last summer I taught digital photography, webpage design, and computer animation. It was a great learning experience for me, and I got paid to do it. The money gave me a chance to invest in some camera equipment that I've been wanting.

I hear people talking about how they can't wait till they retire. But I am not that anxious to retire. As long as my health is good, I hope to continue to work. I just heard Dick LeBeau’s acceptance speech for the football Hall of Fame. I think Dick LeBeau is in his 70s and still coaching football. He said in his speech, "never let anyone tell you that you're too old." Look at Joe Paterno. He coaches football for Penn State, and he is in his mid 80s. I suppose if you hate your job that it's a good idea to retire if you can. But I think you ought to look for something else to do as long as you have good health.