Author Richard Kowles is Distinguished Professor Emeritus in
Biology at Saint Mary s University Minnesota in Winona, MN. He has taught for
the past fifty-eight years at various levels, initially at the high school
level and then at the University. Gaining his PhD. he carried on his career
both in the research laboratory and the classroom. Clear he loved both but he was most
passionate about teaching. Incidentally,
he and I were colleagues for a few years teaching high school in small town
Minnesota.
“A Passion to Teach: Fifty-Eight Years of
Humorous, Weird, & Engaging Tales” is both a great memoir of growing up in tough
circumstances and succeeding but also a warm and engaging and full of
funny stories of learning to teach and being great at it. “It’s been a wonderful career,” he said. “The
students have kept me young and on my toes.”
I think what most appealed to me about this book was the fun
that Kowles obviously had teaching. There was a passion there to help students
learn and joy satisfaction when they did.
I know I enjoyed my work till the day I retired or as Kowles
put “If you can’t have fun, maybe you should look somewhere else.” If you or someone you know is interested in
looking at a teaching career from the inside out or just plain a fun read, this
might be the book for you.
6 comments:
Blessings on all the teachers who love to teach! My life has been touched by several of them, in wonderful ways. People I will never forget!
Jo in MN
It sounds great TB! My younger son after getting his Master's degree in English still did not know what he wanted to do. He took a job teaching part time just to make some money. It wasn't long before he said, "Dad, I really like teaching!"
I'm very glad some people love it. I can't do it. I taught an entry level computer night class once for adults and I hated it!
My daughter teaches school in Alaska. She loves her job, the kids and the whole bit. The kids love her too. Every year she gets a dozen or more requests from parents for their child to be in her room.
Good teachers are worth their weight in gold.
True of any job, really best to enjoy it, and find all the humor.
Sounds like a good read of someone who enjoyed life and his job.
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