Month: July 2022

Story 16:   Are you a rugged individualist? Good Grief, did I have a scary thought just now.  I was thinking of Samuel Clemmons’, aka Mark Twain, famous comment:  “I only know what I read in the newspapers,” this day, it being enhanced to include:  hear/see on the Media.  I wonder what his appropriate little wisdoms… Continue reading Are you an Individualist or one of the sheep

My last day at Alhambra High School has to be one of the more difficult stories for me to tell.  However, had I stayed, no doubt matters would have been definitely not pleasant. No doubt my run-ins with the department chairman (whose curve I skewed) was the main factor.  Yep, I can remember him bragging… Continue reading My last year at Alhambra High School

Story 15-  Stumbling into a stake-out As a preface, I guess I should begin this story back in the days when I was in the Army Reserves; a sergeant in charge of a medical section.  As requisitions for supplies were always a pain, I found it easier to take a case of beer to fellows… Continue reading Stakeout

Story 14:    The greatest coach? One couldn’t want for a better example of a life turned around because of football and, more important, a particular high school coach; one Coach John Machado.   Still, it is a coach that wouldn’t let me play while in junior high school that keeps sneaking into my mind; and, I… Continue reading The greatest coach?

Story 10   Is it true you told my son…..? I’ll not forget my first back to school night; not ever nor never.  As I had just finished up the unit on drugs with the students, I did a brief outline of the entire program for the parents utilizing about half the allotted time, so I… Continue reading Is It True What You Told My Son?

Story 7   Bonnie and Clyde visit  Although this story was to be about my first year in the public system, a couple of experiences with the U.S. Forest Service that influenced my teaching career kinda got in the way.  As I’ve already indicated, I worked a few years with the U.S. Forest Service as a… Continue reading My Bonnie and Clyde visit

Story 12- flat tireUnquestionably, I’ve served under some pretty great administrators. Unfortunately, there have been way too many that have left me shaking my head; and one of those being at Alhambra High school. Let’s just call him Mac. I guess he was supposed to be my mentor as he often had me in his… Continue reading flat tire

Story 9 The curve My first job in the public system was at Alhambra High School. A teacher had left but a few weeks before school opened, so I was the needed quick hire to a prime position; one prep. Although it was listed as Health and Safety, it was better known for its units… Continue reading the perfect curve