Junior High Teachers

[kmarino76]

Year 1972 - 9th grade junior high.... There were three teachers that totally stand out in my mind for a very different reason: Mr. Mulhall (English), Ms. Hanson (Art) and Mr. Demarest (SS). My dad passed away in December 1972 and these three teachers attended the wake (evenings on their own time) and more importantly, had given me tremendous support upon my return to classes... I will always hold a fondness in my heart for their acts of kindness both in and out of the classroom. They made themselves available to me to talk and listen... As an educator myself, I follow their lead! Teachers do more than just "teach curriculum."

[TMS]

WHO REMEMBERS MR. GREENFIELD?

[guest]

i remember mr greenfield, with his suits and bow ties.
He used to snort alot and spray lysol!!!!!!!!!!! But a real
gent back then.

[guest]

I remember Mr. Greenfield as he was the monitor for the late bus. His mantra regardless of how many in the bus was "plenty of seats in the rear", to which we would respond "plenty of rears in the seats"!

[joefas]

Any of you guys out there remember Mrs. Uhlich
8th grade Social Studies teacher?

[kmarino76]

Mrs. Uhlich became an Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum in Hewlett-Woodmere (where I presently work). She retired two years ago and she's in the process of building a new home in Florida. All the guys remember Mrs. Uhlich!

[7 th grade student]

(TEXT MODIFIED BY MESSAGE BOARD ADMIN)

I remember Mrs Uhlich. The schools of Seaford had many good and bad teachers and some great(MR.Anderson). I had her in 7th grade. A teacher should Never put her job in front of their students.This woman was more worried about how she looked to her boss, rather then her students.The only thing I learned from her was that if you were not one of the popular kids , that could get others to like her or if you rocked the boat in anyway. You were to be put on her little list. I left Seaford in 9th grade and found I had a REP with the 8th and 9th grade teachers ,before I ever met them.Thanks t her pissing in their ears. I must say though , I did learn alot about science from her.So hats off to Mrs zanner wherever you are for teaching me about cells and the different parts of plants(whatever their called).Even if you had to do it twice.

[TomBenneche Class of 80]

I feel sorry for the 7th grader who was moved to write such an inflammatory commentary about one of my favorite teachers, Mrs. Uhlich. You must have had a tough JH experience and that is unfortunate.

But I would find it hard to believe Mrs. Uhlich had anything to do with it. She was a great teacher but a tough one - one who required effort and attention in class. Those who didn't put forth effort or pay attention were told so in a constructive way in the context of making her classroom good for all. And she definitely praised students who excelled and added to the classroom - you may just be misconstruing that as being preferential.

Take a step back and think about it. Now that I am old, I do it all the time!

[7th grade student]

(TEXT MODIFIED BY MESSAGE BOARD ADMIN)

Dear Tom, If Mrs u was so great of a teacher then why did it take you over 20 years to say anything about her. We all have had are good and bad teachers.But my opinion is that if even one has had a bad experience with a teacher.Than that is one too many. Teachers , how ever much we may love them or hate them are there for a purpose. They do not get to pick the kids they want in their class so they can shine.Maybe a good look at a newspaper might help you understand what I am getting at. Back in the 70,s we never heard of such things OUT loud.But you did hear some.Maybe if someone stood up then ,we would not have had the snowball effect of today. ex-student

[TomBenneche Class of 80]

Dear 7th grade student:

I didn't wait 20 years to say something good about Mrs. U. Anytime I speak to anyone about great teachers I've had in the past, I mention her, Mr. Donofrio, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Condon, Mrs. Lewis and others.

While we all hope for the perfect world, there are times when teachers are going to hurt students' feelings. Think about how sensitive we were back then - how unsure of ourselves and how our self esteem was directly driven by what our teachers and fellow students thought of us. A teacher could hurt a student's feelings just by saying they got an answer wrong.

You are adamant that Mrs. U had it out for you and anyone else who might not make her "shine". I would bet serious money, however, that Mrs. U and most of the teachers we had at Seaford remember kids who didn't shine initially but who worked hard and, with their help, flourished. That is what most teachers want - to make a difference. Otherwise, why would they torture themselves in what is a pretty difficult job, with difficult students often accompanied by difficult parents? Certainly not for the money. They are relatively well paid but not in the sense of how important their role is in life. We entrust our children to them and they are paid "x" dollars. Yet, they make less than many electricians, plumbers, other tradespeople, musicians, professional atheletes, lawyers (like myself), stock brokers, etc.

Grade fixing, grade inflation and the like are interesting stories but my take on it (and I have been away from Seaford since I graduated in 1980) is that a lot of pressure is placed on teachers and school systems to get their graduates into prestigious colleges. There is a tension there that is a product of today's pressurized society.

I had some tough situations with teachers at Seaford High - they will go unnamed because, in retrospect, I see their side of things now with the benefit of experience and raising my own kids. I may have been mad then - or felt singled out - but I wasn't. I was either being a pain in the ass or not producing to maximum potential. Both of those situations warranted what I got - whether it was a trip to the office or a in-class barb designed to cool my jets.

Am I making any headway with you?

[7 th grade student]

Dear Tom. You did it. You made me see the light. Now I know those Crazt f??ks who attacked us on 9 11 were just having a bad day. Is your head so high in the clouds or did you become a monk.Not only are you talking out of your butt.But you must have been a real airhead as to have your feelings hurt by something as meaningless as getting a wrong answer in school.But dont worry I still love you. Please dont jump ... Tom , There have been some Great teachers at Seaford. And those are the TRUE teachers. But for the others please remember. those that can, do and those that cant. teach. People are not saints and there are people out there who want and need to express their veiw on anyone they can get to listen.

[TomBenneche Class of 80]

A monk? Don't jump? I have to admit, you really cracked me up with your reply whoever you are.

[Steve Taraborelli]

(MESSAGE FROM STEVE T)

I won't tolerate this message board to be used to post negative comments about anybody. If I see it, I will delete it.

Thank you for your cooperation on this.

[7 th grade student]

Dear Steve T. Anything I write on this message board is done with good humer,As I hope people are taking it.If anyone is not. I am sorry, I did not mean to hurt anyones feelings. But for my remarkes about my old teachers those are true.Good, Great and Bad.The teachers have to remember that the kids they teach will one day grow up and have a voice.You have done a great job with this internet site and I hope you continue to do so.I thank you for your time that you spent putting this together and I along with many others enjoy it.But if you are going to censor the theads. You might as well just stop the site. That is wrong. It will no longer be the Seaford Alumni site, But it will be the Steve Taraborelli page and as such you must change the name.The only comment that was close to being negative.Was me using her old nickname. All teachers have nicknames and I was not trying to be negative.Maybe I can see you deleting the old nickname, because it is not in good taste.But when you are young these are the kind of names you give to your teachers.But as for what I wrote. You changed what I wrote when you MODIFIED my posts. If you are ONLY going to put up what you like.Then you MUST change the name of this site.

[7 th grade student]

Tom, Thank you for having a good sense of humor. When I post on this or anyother site it is done in fun.My comments about whichever subject the thead is on are my own and taken from my past and what I know to be true from my dealings with the person I am writing about. But when I get into a relay with someone else on the subject,(like with you).It is done for fun and enjoyment.I do not take what people write to me on the internet to heart, as it should be. I get on the web to relax and have a laugh.I thank you for understanding that it is in fun. If for any reason you might think that what I write is not. I am sorry. For any misunderstanding. See you in partypoker.com lol