Tag: my high school days

Memory Lane: My Favorite Teachers

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

254,584 Teacher Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images

I don’t know why this popped into my head, but I wound up trying to decide who was my favorite high school teacher. I couldn’t do it: too many candidates. But let me just name a few of them.

They all had one thing in common–they were enthusiasts. They loved their work and had a blast with their students.They didn’t know how to bore us!

*Dr. Fernandez (Spanish). She went to college with Fidel Castro–and don’t get her started on that subject! Other than that, she was a merry soul and knew how to bring that to her classes.

*Mr. Shepherd (English). We disagreed about nearly everything, but that never stopped him from encouraging my writing and serving as a mentor. I mean, how many teachers would find time to read a novel by some kid, and discuss it with you?

*Miss Haitch (English). After several decades of teaching, she still loved her job, still loved Shakespeare and Chaucer–and she enjoyed our term papers, too (imagine that!). Somehow she got me to enjoy memorizing and reciting Chaucer’s Prolog–and I still trot it out sometimes.

*Mr. Zisnewski (Social Studies). What can you say? Mr. Z. was outrageous, you never knew what he was going to come up with next. His analysis of the British royal family had to be heard to be believed. Oliver Cromwell couldn’t hold a candle to him.

*Dr. Fox (Geology 102). Honorable Mention: had him in college. You could often find him at his office in the Geology Museum, reading messages and updates from scientists all over the world–and he loved to share them with us. He was sort of a legend at Rutgers U.–and deservedly so. He always had extra time for his students.

Of course, this was all in the 1960s. Are there still teachers like this? I do wish I could give Mr. Shepherd some of my books that have actually been published.

Oh, What a Memory!

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

My wife said she didn’t want to step outside “because the morning sun–”

“Is shinin’ like a red rubber ball!” I finished for her; and we both laughed.

That allusion to a 1966-67 pop song suddenly raised up for me an almost inexpressibly sweet memory of five of us high school kids gathered in William A’s bedroom with pretzels and soda to brainstorm the next issue of our own science fiction magazine, The Diomegan. With Simon & Garfunkel singing this song somewhere in the background.

Oh, what a time that was! How gung-ho we were, to publish our magazine. And we did it, too, got it done–two issues.

I wonder how many of us remember that song? “Now I know you ain’t the only starfish in the sea…”

Memory Lane: Our Own Science Fiction Magazine

Posted By: leeduigon(patty)Posted On:

Science fiction magazine - Wikiwand

When Patty and I were teenagers, there were still science fiction magazines full of cool stories to delight us.

So back in high school, a few of us got together to create and publish our own science fiction magazine, The Diomegan. All original material. The first issue was mimeographed (remember that–purple ink that smelled funny?). For the second, we did some collating work for a printer in return for him printing The Diomegan.

What a staff we had! I was art editor. We had William A. as editor in chief–a genius: you should’ve seen him wipe out the competition on TV, on College Bowl–and Jeffrey T. as science editor: later he became president of the historic Marshall Chess Club in New York City. He also built his own computer while still a high school student. In 1966!

We had Marian P., a true eccentric, and a sophomore named Joe M., who wrote weird science fiction/spy stories. And a couple of “regular” kids who helped us out a lot. We went to science fiction conventions in New York, where we met Arthur C. Clark.

We sold our magazines in a local book and stationery store and earned just a few dollars each; but we weren’t in it for the money.

Gee, I’d love to see “Smitty” and Marian again! I wonder how they made out. Last I heard, William A. had grown as rich as Croesus; and that was no surprise.

And yes, I’ve kept my copies of The Diomegan.