MEMORIES OF HIGHLINE TEACHERS 1948-52
When I first started this web site I had a
page about our teachers.
Unfortunatly it got erased and I never got
around to re-entering it.
About a month ago I received two scathing E's
from lady graduates of later
class years concerning the deletion...I have a
feeling it will be in my
best interests to re-write and enter the page.
Besides, they are both in
regular contact with The Mt. Baker Lady...she
whom has a strong influence
on me...especially at dinner time.
We usually were quite respectful of our
teachers...always calling
them MISTER (teachers name) rather than by
their first names. Example:
It would be MISTER DeRoin...not Hurley. There
was one man teacher, however,
that I never heard called "Mister". Can you
name him?
BIRDIE DAVIS always had that shy smile ...
MISS SHIPLEY, English Lit (I
hated that subject...but not Miss Shipley),
had us spend a whole quarter
studying and dissecting a book called "SILAS
MARNER". At the end of the
quarter she asked for our written opinions of
old Silas...too bad we didn't
know the word "geek" back then ...
Next quarter she flogged us for months with the
"Rhyme Of The Ancient Mariner" ...
One more of these ladies then I'' move on to
some of our coaches.
AMY JENKS. English. I broke my ankle in the
Fall of 1950...was out of school
nearly the whole quarter of this class. Had a
tutor come to the house
regularly with homework. She flunked me based
on poor attendance. Said the
work was alright, though. Later, I truly
hoped she would fall off
the tricycle ... MR. IVERSON, 9th grade science
was a fighter pilot in the
South Pacific during WW 2...was shot down
by a Japaneese Zero and went
down with his plane ... COACHES: JACK
MACKENROTH, football, always
seemed so quiet to me. DAVE KLEIN, class of 56
football player, says he
wasn't quiet on the football field. He used to
make the team practice overtime
until they "got it right" when they screwed up
... I wonder if ALF HEMSTAD
ever found a suit that fit? ... During his U. S.
history classes he often
would extend his middle finger while emphasizing
a point ... Ruffians would giggle.
Girls would sit straight faced...almost.
How many of "us" can remember...Without
looking in your annual...
that LOWELL WIGGINS was the track coach in
1948? Our class later
nicknamed him "Our Favorite Spy" after a
popular movie of the time.
He was a vice principal by then ... WILLIS
"BILL" TROWBRIDGE, world
history teacher and basketball coach, always
wore his lucky red tie.
He was the most relaxed teacher ... ANSWER:
Did you ever hear "POP" LAIRD
called MR. LAIRD? Not me. "POP" always reminded
me of a warm puppy ...
More later...feel free to send your favorite
memories of teachers.
5/31/03
From DAVE KLEIN...56
"How about the other Trowbridge...Earl? He
taught various math classes,
including Aeronautics, and had the patience of
Jobe. I never skipped one
of his classes which shows his effect on me.
The guy in the 56 annual
with two things after his name: Football and
Give Me Wisdom To Match My
Strength.
Thank you, Mr. Trowbridge, your efforts provided me with a solid
base for later on."
A nice testimony, Dave. I hope everyone has at least one teacher to think
so fondly and respectfully of.
Noted that last March (2004) one of our favorite teachers...SPENCER
HUNGERFORD...passed on at the age of 99. He spent more than 30 years
teaching in the Highline School District.
In talking with Nick Yotz some time ago he told me that he took an informal
poll among some class of 52 people. By a large margin BIRDIE DAVIS turned
out to be their favorite teacher. POP LAIRD was
mine. Influenced, possibly, by
his subjects being my favorites of all of my school classes. Mechanical
Drawing and Architectural Drawing.
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