I wrote last fall about my get-together with a group of high school friends. More than once, high school teachers came up. We had a lot of good ones in Atlantic.
To help with my memory, I dug out a couple Javelins - the Atlantic High School yearbook. I knew exactly where the books were because of our recent move.
My 7th grade year - I didn't even realize some of these people were on the School Board. Hell - I didn't even know there WAS a School Board.
- Bill Beatty - who was a family friend and farm manager for my grandparents
- Dick Cook - pharmacist and classmate of my Aunt Marty, we hung out with their fam because our babysitter (when our parents were out of town) Lulabelle, was also their babysitter. Cute kids - Terri, Sarah and Barb
- Supt. Schuler - they later named the junior high after him
- Jim Tyler - of Atlantic Bottling fame, the Tyler fam lived near us and Sue and I played a lot of sports together (she, much better than I)
- Edith Shank, secretary - roommate of Jeanne Howarth
- Lyle Harris - didn't know him
- Wendell Pellett - later he became a legislator
High School Principal - Darrell Eblen - a pleasant, smiley man. My senior year I served as the "absent slip" collector in the Principal's office. I got to know the secretaries there and the boss. They were all nice. Del Neary was the Junior High Principal. He was somewhat scary - and he had to be! The Junior High brought together 3 grade schools under one roof, and people tested boundaries.
The enforcer was Rollin Dyer - the Athletic Director. He was a nice guy who could turn into Jack the Ripper with his voice. I tried to avoid that side of him. Years later I saw him on the sidelines of Creston's homecoming football game vs. Atlantic. Paul and I were on the Atlantic side waiting to walk our beautiful daughter daughter across the field as a homecoming princess. Mr. D. was all mellow in a lawn chair and I proudly made introductions. (Paul had broken a front tooth that week and threatened to escort Amy looking like a hillbilly, but Dave Buck came through and bonded it nicely). Creston won the game in a last second goal line stand - yay Panthers!
I must post a disclaimer here that there were probably several great teachers that I didn't come in contact with simply because I wasn't on that chosen career path - like nursing or teaching.
Norman DeLance - is listed as an English teacher. I recall his name - but don't remember him, or Barbara Fredricksen. And I don't mean to use this post as a gossip piece. These are my recollections with some embellishments from my girls through the years.
English
Mrs. Sweeney taught a fun Mass Media course that took our class on a field trip to Omaha. We went to an advertising firm, Bozell and Jacobs. We visited the TV station near UNO that showed Creature Feature with Dr. SanGuinary (Ah, Ah, Ah) - scary shows of my youth. What did Mrs. Royalty teach - wasn't she a character? Junior High stuff?
Poor Jo Ann Runyan got teased because the product Funion Rings came out when she taught, and everyone would sing that commercial inserting Runyon for Funyon.
Miss Wissink taught 7th grade English. Whenever I hear the song "Sweet Seasons" by Carol King, I always think of that class, because of the project I did for the class - using that song. I partnered with someone...Chris or Robyn?
There is lots of lore about Mr. Larry Lyons - and just how his, uh, package was arranged. Word has it that when he would wear his yellow leisure suit and other tight clothes, front row students could identify just what side the package was on. Mr. Lyons would move behind the podium briefly, and walaa! The package had moved to the other side. Magic. Robyn reported that she heard Mr. Lyons was running a bar in SW Iowa later in life...Essex? I've forgotten.
Thane Hascall - taught a couple classes I was privileged to take. Honors English - 10th grade? He was one of those teachers I really wanted to please. He was witty and kept class interesting. We read books like this one.
Jeanne Howarth is listed as "Head of Dept." I'm sure that was important to her. Never married, roomie with Edith Shank, therefore cause of many rumors by the time I realized two women could be more than just roomies. She also must have had a problem with dry skin that caused her some itchiness. Jeanne took on a frosty, crotchety air as a teacher, but deep down she was a softy, I think.
When I was a freshman in HS, she and Edith moved into the duplex across the street from our house at 202 Crombie. We had just gotten Maxl, our Airdale pup, so I was in the yard quite a bit with him - so I had a few occasions to say "hi" to her. Sadly, one of the roomies, I believe it was Jeanne, was hospitalized and when Edith picked her up from the hospital. Edith went to drop her off at the duplex and must have suffered a massive heart attach at the wheel of the car. She stepped on the accelerator and nailed our former home at 202 Crombie - right where my bedroom was, and died on the spot.
Frances Dyer taught 7/8th English - I remember Roger Underwood announcing his Mom had a baby during one of those classes. We did those color coded reading things in a box. I recall not really reading, just guessing at the questions to see what score I could get.
Science
Lynn Barnes, junior high science teacher, was a hottie. All the girls were gaga over his bod. He and partner in crime, Chuck Burnett made a good duo for 13 year-olds just starting science studies.
Ruth Beaver taught HS Chem...until she quit to run away with a guy (was it Mr. Niemann, the Earth Science teacher?). Leaving me stuck with Roger Mathias - the Physics teacher. I won't blame my lame education in both areas totally on them...it might be genetic...
Lowell Clauson - might just have been the nicest man ever. HS Biology teacher. He would mix in stories of his visits to the Galapagos Islands along with having us to pith (kill) a frog. Later, when I was the asbent slip pickup girl, he would draw little pics on them for me. Good guy, and teacher.
Social Studies
I don't remember Mr. Carmichael. Miss Fett taught Junior High geography? Mr. Huebner was a popular teacher - he's listed for 9th grade history. Mr. Hiemstra taught that too - that's who I had. I had fun arguing with Mr. Neary about all things political - he was a big Dem, and I grew up a Republican. We all took his Government class senior year. Wally Roscoe too was a popular teacher.
Mr. Massman is listed for History - ?
Math
I have a love/hate relationship with math. I had several good teachers in junior high and high school who taught me. I started out the dumb kid in the smart class - in 9th grade honors algebra. Amy is an Algebra whiz, and Jud can do it too. They didn't get it from me. Mr. Holbrook tried to help me, and he kind got through to my sponge brain. I switched classes at the quarter and got into Geometry and Trig. Now that made sense! I believe it was Mr. Nissen who taught that class. Great sideburns.
Mr. Henderson - was a math teacher and also the track coach. Later, when we moved to Creston, he was the bane of our town as those Atlantic teams were always so good.
Mrs. Mikklesen - was a great Jr. High math teacher. I saw her years later when my son played basketball at the old high school in Atlantic.
Other staff
Senor Ricardo Seufert - was one of the most effective teachers I've ever had. I think of him often. We had those reel-to-reel tapes that I still remember pieces of. And some of the songs he made us sing. We also did bulletin boards - Richard Scary characters. I'd end up reading those books to my children 10 years later. We bitched about that man constantly! And he was a tough grader. We always thought he was gay - but he ended up marrying and having children. So much for my gaydar.
Delma Wright was the choir director. We liked to watch her arms flop. I was a miserable failure at choir, so I eventually retired. I still pretend today that I can sing. In Junior High we had a nice young woman for Mixed Chorus - she let us change the words to a song "Come Saturday Morning". We inserted "I'm going to watch the cartoons - Pink Panther and the Avengers, Wide World of Sports" and on like that.
Betty Heflin was the P.E. teacher - and golf coach, cheerleading sponsor. She was a solid lady - nice to talk to. She was the face of Atlantic golf for many years. Okay, she wore her hair really short, and I don't think I ever saw her in any color other than blue. She was a "Pat" like the Saturday Night Live sketch. How hard would that have been in the 70s? Hard...but she pulled it off.
Bob Younger - guys' P.E. teacher. They lived right down the hill from us. I didn't ever know him well. When I was younger, one time he watched Greg punch me in their yard, smiling all the while...of course I probably deserved it...Now he's lost 2 sons to early deaths. Sad.
Mrs. Lundgren - Junior High P.E. teacher - she was put in contact with girls at a very fragile time in their lives. She wasn't good at it. Case in point - Dodge Ball. Why let boys throw tiny rubber balls at girls? And why make girls get naked in a wide open shower and stare at them. Heartless.
Joel Simms - Another hottie, but he knew it. He was a very good softball coach. And he taught me to drive - and did a darn good job! Joel once hurdled the softball fence at Sunnyside to scoop up my sis Betso because a line drive had nailed her when she was keeping score on the old score board there.
Dale Allen taught shop and more importantly was the first coach of Atlantic Girls Basketball. Nice guy with a sense of humor. He had to be a very patient man, because we had a long way to go and that first year something like 80 girls went out for bball. Some didn't even know the rules of the game!
Miss Leslein was the coach of Girls hoops my senior year. I liked her a lot, even though she didn't see the brilliance in my playing abilities. I enjoyed having a woman coach. I didn't have her as a teacher. I think of her every time I hear the Aerosmith song "Dream On" - I traveled with Sharon and a couple others to scout teams we'd play in the future, and it seems like that song would always be in the radio.
Mrs. Elming - Home Economics teacher. Everything I know about sewing, I learned from her. Okay, so it's not that much, but I can sew on buttons! We also talked about makeup and cooking. She lived around the corner from us.
Mrs. Nebola - the art teacher. I wasn't the artsy type, so I didn't take any classes from her.
The Guidance Counselors (no help at all) Mr. Eskew/Mr. Jespersen - hope they have better ones today.
Miss Kathy Lincoln - Typing - one of the most functional classes I took! I use this skill daily.
Gwyn Kluever - Jr. High Librarian - I have fond memories of listening to Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat on headphones in the Library. And checking out books like "Are You There God it's Me Margaret". Gwen was my Mom's friend and we went to their house a few times. They had a trampoline. Fun! Gwyn left us too soon.
So those are mostly just my memories - so imagine when you get all of us Class of 76ers together what we come up with on teachers...
And teachers today have an even tougher job - because we were a box of chocolates compared to kids today. Only because the world today is more complex. They have a lot to deal with.
Bless all of you who teach! Remember that in 35 years, someone could be blogging about you!
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