Larry Carter

I don't recall the first day, per se, but I know that I was nervous. I had taught in a school where the students were predominantly African-American and Latino, so I wasn’t sure what to expect in a setting that was so very different.

 

A few things come to mind: (1) Being scolded by Eva Stengel, the math department chair, for running up the stairs because I was late to class. When she reprimanded me, I told her that I was a teacher, not a student (it was my first year), to which she replied, “Young man, I don’t care who you are! Do not run in this building!” Nowadays, one would say that I had been “roasted.” (2) The first time I taught the “A” section of pre-algebra that had a predominance of 7th graders, four or five 6th graders, and two 8th graders. It was memorable because a colleague at the time, Jono Schrode, who could wrap circles around me mathematically, had somehow been tapped to teach the “B” section. I was extremely anxious about how I would fare, but I did all right in the end. (3) Playing the flute with the 5th and 6th grade ensembles in the Winter and Spring Concerts. I started playing the flute when I was 30 years old; Rochelle Itzen was my flute teacher. Bob Rosen eventually became my ensemble teacher as I moved up the ranks to Chamber Players. The experience of being in his classes meant that I had to work my time around my own teaching duties with that responsibility. I haven’t tried playing the flute in years, but it was a great time!

 

Blessedly retired!

 

I love the Silence of Meeting.