It's been twenty-six years since this writer left the high school classroom. For twenty years prior to that I had many enjoyable experiences teaching American History to young, enthusiastic future voting citizens in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois.
Even today I get a kick of out young people in that the realities of life haven't destroyed their perceptions for the future and what it holds for them. I was fortunate to instruct in schools with clean, well-scrubbed kiddies who came from good, hard-working families. Of course, when I applied for a job I looked closely at the environment and culture of the school. I mean, who wants to teach in a prison?
My fourth gig took place in Davenport, Iowa. It was at Assumption High School and I enjoyed my three years of classroom instruction immensely. One of my favorite students was Anne Marie Howard. This was in 1976. Anne went on to become a Hollywood movie actress and now does commercials for television. I happened to catch some of her work this morning as she extolled the virtues of purchasing X cat litter. I think Anne is to the legitimate commercial industry what Jenna Jamison is to porn. In other words, she's in demand.
Most high school teachers become a distant memory after a student leaves them. At least it is on their part but not with Anne. We've communicated via her website quite a few times over the years and it always made me feel special when she mentioned how much she got out of coming into my setting and listening to me perform. Can you hear the bubble bursting? I stopped writing Ms. Howard two years ago. Her last email to me stated: "MJ Hawkeye, you're the very best English teacher I ever had". Annie should learn not to be so specific. It can destroy a persons ego.
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