[TheForge] Public Education

[Andrew Vida]

Bob Ehrenberger wrote:

> My question to you is,  Am I the only one that is a little concerned that 
> Andy was
> ever alowed to teach?  Has there been any follow up to make sure these kids
> were not damaged from the exposure?

About ten years after I left teaching, I was walking through Grand 
Central Station on my way home one evening.  Lo and behold I hear my 
name called... "Mr. V!"  I looked and saw a student from my first year - 
Ralph - a Puerto Rican boy from Manhattan Votech.  I was teaching 
statics and strength of materials to a class of seniors and he was one 
of them.  The first thing he did was launch into an apology for himself 
and the rest of the kids for having given me such a hard time - they 
really didn't - they were actually pretty good kids.  Then he thanked me 
and told me that I was the only teacher that ever really cared for them.

I think I floated away, rather than walked.

It's good to know that what I did in those days did not fall on deaf 
ears and closed minds - just teenagers.