The Board of Education

As I watch several of my children who are in education work during this coronavirus, I see them using the internet to reach their students. This writing will probably let you know that I started teaching many years ago. I will help you out with that. The first year I taught in public school was 1968. It was at Orem High School.

Carl Stubbs in classroom D-2, 1985

In my room, D-2, the chalkboards were black. Not long after, it was determined that green was a much better color, easier for the students to see. I was not teaching there long before they came in one summer and put in the new improved green boards. They were still called blackboards by the teachers and students. These boards worked just fine for many years.

I should deviate from the story of boards to let you know that my penmanship is not good. In fact, it is terrible. In fact, I remember in college I would take good notes, but have to hurry home and type them before I forgot what they said. I had a difficult time reading my own notes. Because of this I seldom used the boards of any kind.

After a few years, I made a green board that was made of a sheet of metal, painted green and framed like a picture. I had magnets and they worked well on the board, and I could write on it too. The paint I used was made especially for boards.

Sometime later it was determined that whiteboards were the best. They could be written on and then wiped off and used again. I really liked them. My penmanship still did not improve. I used to write down everything I needed before class. That worked well until some well-meaning custodian came in and cleaned the boards off during the night, and all of my notes for the students were gone. I still liked them and did the best I could to use them.

Some years later, when I was in administration, I was complaining at home to my wife about all the checks I had to sign. I think I told my wife that the only reason that they had hired me was for my signature. My daughter Julia was there and heard my complaint. She then gave me some very good advice. She said, “Well Dad, then you better work on your penmanship.” This, I’m sure, is very true.

Now teachers have notepads, iPads, computers, and many other electronic ways to communicate with students. These types of communication have been very good to have and to use during this pandemic.

I would pick the whiteboards as my favorite, but times change so fast and life, though it seems long at the first, becomes so very short. I am now retired and am grateful for computers and large screens so I can write some of my thoughts. I am happy that I don’t have to worry about my penmanship too much anymore, unless writing or addressing a letter. I must admit that I have taken the changes in the boards and in my life for naught. I should have paid more attention to each of them as they came and went. I have often not taken my life and that of my family as seriously as I should have. I do love each child and they have all helped me in my life. My wife is the one who had taught me how to use the computer and how it helps to write about my life.