High School Teaching (A Decade Gone now...)

This week is the ten-year anniversary of me being fired at Satan's School for Girls and Boys.  It's a bittersweet thought because I loved teaching high school.

Of course, if that doesn't happen, I never get to teach/coach at Allen County or coach at LLCC, and if not at LLCC, no trip to nationals, no AVCA membership and conventions, or presentation and book.  It's not like it's been ten years of misery by any means.

On the other hand, ten years at SSGB and I'd have 400+ wins and, I'd put $50,000 on this--there would've been at least four trips to State during that time.  A pity the total still stands at zero because there've been some good players through the SSGB program.  Feh--that's whining and we do not have the ability to go back and change things--and as I noted in a different blog, change something in the past and you're going to eliminate a bunch of good things that come down the road. 

It doesn't change my feelings though--it's despicable for a superintendent to remove a faculty member because someone's dad threatens to stop donating to the school because of a grade or playing time.  If you are a Catholic institution, you should always, always, place integrity and ethics above money.  That's a life lesson--there's always more money, always fundraising, but once you compromise your morals, there's no getting those back.

I hope my former students, former players, realize that.  It makes it funny when I get accused of lying or being unethical/inappropriate.  Because it's lying.  I've got a bazillion faults--those ain't them. 

I gave 100% teaching. 100% coaching.  I'm proud of where those students have gone, what they are doing--whether it is starting a family, working on a doctoral exam, working in the family business, or serving in the armed forces.  I tried to make you work hard because that's what brings success in life.  I tried to model ethics and integrity, so that when you got into your careers, you would also be known as someone worthy of trust.

The best?  You're all so different--music lovers, readers, family men/women.  I love Facebook so I can see what you are all up to--even if I don't ever do more than (lamely) click "like".  As a teacher, I am absolutely proud of all of you.  I just hope that with 10-15 years of perspective, you found the work I asked of you to have been worthwhile.