The teaching experience
From the Editor's Desk
Arthur McLean
Iget it now. No, I think I really get it now.

I taught a little photography class at Alabama Southern at the end of summer, and it was a good time.

But I feel like I got a piece of what teachers feel when faced with students who are there, waiting to be taught and wanting to learn from you.

And there I was, facing my students, mostly adults who'd paid money and made time in their busy lives for me to teach them something. It hit me just after the first class: I really really didn't want to let them down.

Of course, my job was easy. Everybody there wanted to be there and wanted to learn what I had to teach. If they weren't feeling good or just didn't feel like coming, well, the didn't come. But that was rare indeed.

Oh, and I didn't have to grade papers.

Over the course of several weeks, we learned about our cameras, had discussions and answered questions. I saw students helping each other and even handed out homework assignments.

It was a fulfilling experience.

I even feel a sense of pride when I read about one of my former pupils doing well in their scholarly studies and I didn't even have anything to do with that!

In the end, it made me think about teachers I've had in my life, both in and out of the classroom. They're people who want to help and do their best to try to make a positive impact in the lives of others. And that's a great thing for those who can answer the call.

So, to all the teachers I've had who helped me get through in this world, I say thanks.

Small world

While interviewing Marlo Anderson, new director of the Southwest Alabama Chamber of Commerce, we discovered we had attended the same small school in Mobile during our elementary and middle school years.

Considering there were only about 300 kids K-12 in the whole school when we left (about the same time we found), it's pretty amazing to think that two students from that little (now defunct) school in Mobile would wind up in Thomasville.

We didn't remember each other, but there were plenty of other kids from back in the day we could both recall.

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