The Magic Number

The days of summer count down like seconds on a basketball shot clock. Soon, kids will grab their backpacks and make the trek back to school, to stroll down hallways that shine brighter than any other time of year and sit in freshly cleaned desks smelling of institutional disinfectant.

Thirty years ago, my summer of baseball, Atari and watching Carl Lewis in the Olympics ended with the start of third grade. Probably like many students, I remember struggling to make any connection between what I learned in school and the rest of my world.

Then, I discovered the Magic Number.

Each morning, a number was written in the corner of the chalkboard. It decreased every day or two. After watching the Cubs on WGN, I realized it was the Magic Number - the number of victories the team needed to capture their division title.

The Magic Number sparked a conversation with my teacher, Miss Dalton, about the incredible '84 Cubs. She was never my math teacher, but Dalton ignited my interest in learning by teaching me how to calculate a batting average and lending me her copy of Vine Line, a Cubs newspaper for grown-ups. The extra effort and attention she paid to my inquiries helped me bridge academics with my interests outside of school.

I imagine that most adults can recall teachers who challenged them to become more engaged, think critically, or express personal creativity. A teacher who goes beyond the prescribed curriculum can make an extraordinary difference.

Sells, Kluesner, Wenzel, Ecker and Pink are just a handful of educators who positively impacted my outlook on learning inside and outside the classroom. Some of these educators are still around while others have retired or passed on. Nonetheless, all are part of the person I am still becoming.

Even today, I cannot take a picture without imagining Pink critiquing my composition. When I visit the Art Institute of Chicago, I have to say aloud Wenzel's catchy phrase, 'Seur-ot Dot,” referring to the use of pointillism in Seurot's masterpiece prominently displayed in the museum.

Today's teachers are greatly challenged to find new ways to reach through to students and help them develop into lifelong learners.

As I grow older, I have an increased appreciation for the impact great teachers have had on my life and the lives of others. Thank you to the educators who go above and beyond the contents of a textbook by creating amazing opportunities for our children to explore and learn in school and beyond.

' Joe Strathman, of North Liberty, grew up in Cedar Rapids. Comments: joestrathman@gmail.com