Teach
01-15-2016, 09:02 PM
I'll be back tomorrow morning with my Aqueduct picks. But, for now, a trip back to the past in: "Tales From The Track":
The Track: My First Teaching Interview
"What did you just say?" I asked in a moment of disbelief. "Would you like a job?" the man repeated. I said, “Sure”.
This dialogue would take place at a most unexpected site: the track. Foxboro Raceway, Foxboro, MA.
It was the mid-1960s. I had just graduated from college. I was seeking for my first teaching job. I had recently sent out about a dozen cover-letters and resumes to Boston-area school systems. It was now early-July and I had yet to hear from anyone.
As a way of taking a break from all the typing and letter-writing, I decided to enjoy my favorite pastime: watching and betting on harness racing at Foxboro Raceway (Foxboro Raceway, now a Gillette Stadium parking lot, ran a 60-day summer meet from mid-June to late-August).
That evening, as was usually the case, there were dozens of people milling about on the track apron. I remember that I was swigging a cold beer and munching on a hot dog while I was trying to figure out both ends of the early daily. At the time, I recall that I was talking to a friend both about the upcoming races and my hope that I'd land my first teaching job before the start of the new school year.
Well, just then, a stranger who happened to overhear my conversation motioned for me to come over to the folding chair where he was sitting. I would later find out that he was the head of the history department in a high school north of Boston.
Moreover, I recall that we chatted about where I had gone to college, what courses I had taken, where I had done my student-teaching, and a whole bunch of other teaching-related matters. We must have talked for a good ten minutes. The only thing that brought our discussion to end was the approach of the first race; we both wanted to get a bet in on the early double. As the department head was about to leave for the windows, he said, "Would you like a job?" I said, "Sure." He then said, "Call my office on Monday morning and I'll set up an interview (he wrote his number on a piece of paper). I'd like to talk with you further," he added. He continued, "You can later interview with the school's principal."
Well, as I left the track that evening I thought to myself, "This is truly unbelievable. I go to the track for an enjoyable evening of harness racing and, lo and behold -- I end up with an interview for a teaching job. Amazing!"
That following Monday morning I called my benefactor, the history department head. I recall that we set up an interview for that Wednesday.
Two days later, I was at the high school for my interview. The department head greeted me warmly. We sat and talked further about my background and my philosophy of education. I have to tell you that all the while I'm thinking, "Wouldn't this be great if I get hired; my boss is also a big harness racing fan."
During the course of our conversation, I recall the department head saying to me, "You seem nervous." I said, "You're right. This is my first teaching interview and I want to do well.” I remember the department head saying that "he liked my candor." We seemed to hit it off.
About a half-hour later, I met with the school's principal.
I remember he went over most of the same ground that the department head had covered. I do recall that he questioned me about my experience. I said that although I had never taught before, I had been a camp counselor and that I had done well in my student-teaching. For some reason, it seemed that my lack of teaching experience was an issue. I recall finishing up the interview, shaking hands and heading out the door. I remember that as I was leaving the principal said that he'd get back to me.
About a week later, I got this phone call. It was the principal. He told me that he had enjoyed speaking with me and that I had a very good academic record; however, the school was looking for someone with teaching experience.
As it turns out, that September, I got a job teaching math in a Boston high school. Interestingly, I ran into that same department head at nearly the same spot on the Foxboro Raceway track apron about five years later. Wouldn't you know it -- he remembered me. And yes, he asked me the same question: "Are you looking for a job?" As Yogi Berra would have said, "It was deja vu all over again." Only this time, I had a job. I was then teaching history in a suburban high school west of Boston.
Yet, I'll never forget the fact that I had my first teaching interview at -- of all places -- the track.
The Track: My First Teaching Interview
"What did you just say?" I asked in a moment of disbelief. "Would you like a job?" the man repeated. I said, “Sure”.
This dialogue would take place at a most unexpected site: the track. Foxboro Raceway, Foxboro, MA.
It was the mid-1960s. I had just graduated from college. I was seeking for my first teaching job. I had recently sent out about a dozen cover-letters and resumes to Boston-area school systems. It was now early-July and I had yet to hear from anyone.
As a way of taking a break from all the typing and letter-writing, I decided to enjoy my favorite pastime: watching and betting on harness racing at Foxboro Raceway (Foxboro Raceway, now a Gillette Stadium parking lot, ran a 60-day summer meet from mid-June to late-August).
That evening, as was usually the case, there were dozens of people milling about on the track apron. I remember that I was swigging a cold beer and munching on a hot dog while I was trying to figure out both ends of the early daily. At the time, I recall that I was talking to a friend both about the upcoming races and my hope that I'd land my first teaching job before the start of the new school year.
Well, just then, a stranger who happened to overhear my conversation motioned for me to come over to the folding chair where he was sitting. I would later find out that he was the head of the history department in a high school north of Boston.
Moreover, I recall that we chatted about where I had gone to college, what courses I had taken, where I had done my student-teaching, and a whole bunch of other teaching-related matters. We must have talked for a good ten minutes. The only thing that brought our discussion to end was the approach of the first race; we both wanted to get a bet in on the early double. As the department head was about to leave for the windows, he said, "Would you like a job?" I said, "Sure." He then said, "Call my office on Monday morning and I'll set up an interview (he wrote his number on a piece of paper). I'd like to talk with you further," he added. He continued, "You can later interview with the school's principal."
Well, as I left the track that evening I thought to myself, "This is truly unbelievable. I go to the track for an enjoyable evening of harness racing and, lo and behold -- I end up with an interview for a teaching job. Amazing!"
That following Monday morning I called my benefactor, the history department head. I recall that we set up an interview for that Wednesday.
Two days later, I was at the high school for my interview. The department head greeted me warmly. We sat and talked further about my background and my philosophy of education. I have to tell you that all the while I'm thinking, "Wouldn't this be great if I get hired; my boss is also a big harness racing fan."
During the course of our conversation, I recall the department head saying to me, "You seem nervous." I said, "You're right. This is my first teaching interview and I want to do well.” I remember the department head saying that "he liked my candor." We seemed to hit it off.
About a half-hour later, I met with the school's principal.
I remember he went over most of the same ground that the department head had covered. I do recall that he questioned me about my experience. I said that although I had never taught before, I had been a camp counselor and that I had done well in my student-teaching. For some reason, it seemed that my lack of teaching experience was an issue. I recall finishing up the interview, shaking hands and heading out the door. I remember that as I was leaving the principal said that he'd get back to me.
About a week later, I got this phone call. It was the principal. He told me that he had enjoyed speaking with me and that I had a very good academic record; however, the school was looking for someone with teaching experience.
As it turns out, that September, I got a job teaching math in a Boston high school. Interestingly, I ran into that same department head at nearly the same spot on the Foxboro Raceway track apron about five years later. Wouldn't you know it -- he remembered me. And yes, he asked me the same question: "Are you looking for a job?" As Yogi Berra would have said, "It was deja vu all over again." Only this time, I had a job. I was then teaching history in a suburban high school west of Boston.
Yet, I'll never forget the fact that I had my first teaching interview at -- of all places -- the track.