All photos by AlanFrom our fisheries and wildlife guy.....Homework was never like this when I was in school. The best assignments I can remember were bringing in frog eggs (and that may have been a voluntary assignment) and writing stories. We sure never got to trek out into the wilds of a farm, armed with mom's camera and a turkey call, to count birds and photograph amazing snow geese and deer and strutting tom turkeys.
We did do some amazingly cool stuff in school though, back in the day, stuff that little matters like lawsuits would certainly prohibit today. Like along about fifth grade, Mr. Davis, our science teacher, took us both to Howe Caverns and down into a wild cave. Can you imagine taking fifth graders into a wild cave today?
I can remember wading down the stream that ran through the center of the wild cave, in soggy, totally inadequate boots, hoping to see bats and marveling at tiny limestone formations that popped out of the walls and off the ceilings and floors everywhere. We had to clamber down a rope from a parking lot to get into the cave....through a sort of well cover, culvert thing with a huge concrete cap that was lifted aside....I can't see that being allowed to day, but that cave has its own photo album in my mind and the pictures are as sharp and clear as if it were yesterday.
Friends and I did quite a bit of spelunking in the college days and I am sure the interest was spawned on those fifth grade trips. I am too old and lame and not exactly skinny enough any more to belly crawl through dark, sleek, wild places deep underground, but I am glad I had the chance once upon a youthful time. And I am glad my mom didn't know about those unsupervised and probably ridiculously unsafe 20-something trips. We gave her enough grey hair as it is.
Here and here are some pics Alan and I brought back from last year's trip to Howe Caverns where we went to celebrate his successful road test. Here are more.
Speaking of teachers who truly inspire students, this fellow taught all three of our kids over the years, and he is one of the two or three best teachers any of them have had. Although he has surely earned his retirement, the school will be lessened by his absence next year.
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9 comments:
"mr.t", i remember him well...my exact thoughts too...he was a friend to all the students, that's important for being a well liked teacher.
happy retirement mr. t! :)
How lucky you were to go on that field trip in 5th grade. What great memories. Yea, I can't imagine schools allowing anything remotely close to that being allowed today.
I love Howe Cavern's, its been a few years... think its time for a road trip... I love the indian museum that is right before the Cavern's too...
WHAT IS THE SCHOOL WITHOUT MR. T??????
NOOO SAY IT AINT SO MR T. He was the BEST! At least his son is still teaching!!
I have been reading about your milk pick up. I wondered if there is an e-mail address or place we can send letters to help you fight to get your milk pick up started again. Put an address out and we will get involved if you think it will help.
I enjoyed your memories and the photos of birds. I also like the calf photos. I have never tried to carry a calf on my shoulder, that is lots of weight. I have picked them up and carried them in my arms and walked them to the barn, sometimes for a mile. But never on my shoulder.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Please let us know what happens concerning your milk pick up. I keep thinking of your situation.
We had a terrible milk driver several yrs. ago & had to dump milk several times due to the bad roads; however, the school busses ran!
Anon, he is the greatest guy! The best kind of teacher. Wish there were a million more just like him
The Wife. it was so exciting to me. At that age you aren't really sure who you are going to grow up to be and experiences like that can sure help to point you in a good direction.
WW, Alan wants to go again and I hope we can. It is such a place of wonder and marvel. The college has arrangements in place to go into the back part of the cave where it is still wild. Sadly he missed a lab class that went in this year because he was really sick.
Alan, bereft of a very fine man.
Anon, thank you. I am going to see if I can come up with something in that line over the next few weeks, because there are big forces trying to change the dairy industry in an ugly way. I don't know what can be done yet, but I think grassroots attention to the situation is going to be vital for a lot of small farms. Vertical integration has done negative things to the poultry, beef and pork sectors. I think it is on its way for dairy and this is part of how it is going to be done.
Linda, if you can carry a calf anywhere, you have my admiration. I used to heft them and haul them, but I leave it to the kids now. That one had to spend a few hours in the kitchen warming up and Alan was lugging her back to the barn. lol
Linda/IL, thank you. For the moment we will be okay. However there are things going on in the whole industry in the area that don't look good for small guys like us. I am in a way glad that what happened to us got some official scrutiny of what is happening. I am afraid that will be important pretty soon.
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