A Year of Lasts
This is my last Fall semester of teaching. Barring a miracle change of heart or an unforeseen event, I will retire on June 30, 2016 after 30 years of service. So after making this monumental decision, this has become a year of lasts: the last Remembrance Day Assembly; the last time I’m in a room full of grade 10’s; the last time I teach The Merchant of Venice ; the last time I mark a set of Media Studies exams; the last time I have a semester turnaround day (because the next time I have a turnaround day -- in June -- I won’t be turning around. I’ll be retiring). I had a thought this morning: I’ve taught grade 12 University English every year except in my first year and in this, my last year. I’ve come full circle. In my first year, I was rookie guy. I was given the dog’s breakfast, as it’s called in the business: 2 Maths, 1 Science, 2 English and 1 Accounting. Café/Bookstore in Gorey, Ireland (not a book room:) ) The Science was lots of fun. Try/de...