I've read a lot of biographies, and there always seems to be a section on the positive effect a teacher or teachers had on the subject. Kalas is no exception. His career was influenced by one exceptional high school teacher and another in college.
Sorry to say, I can't point to any teacher of mine who rose above the crowd. There were a few I liked, even a couple I respected. Most were unmotivated space wasters.
One of those in the "good" column came to mind the other day. I won't use names because I'm not sure how she'd feel about that. I dropped her a card and note because of a passing in the family.
Here's what stood out about this college professor. There were no tests in her class, just a weekly short paper. At first, it seemed like an easy ride. When I thought about it a little more, the weekly paper was an effort to get us to think, feel, and write rather than memorize facts.
I didn't fully appreciate it back then. I do now. Thank you.
