Speaking of asking questions...
In 1990, I was a member of North Dallas High School's mathematics department. It was just my second year as a teacher, but I learned fast in the inner-city. Our department chairman, a man of much experience, was a big proponent of a series of textbooks published by a man named John Saxon. Our chairman contended that the Saxon texts, along with tutoring and committed teaching were responsible for improved student scores at NDHS. Because Saxon was a controversial maverick publisher, going up against math experts who rejected his books, "60 Minutes" deemed the story worthy for its show.
When I learned that the show was coming right to my own department, I became excited, to say the least. I was a huge fan, going back to my early teen years. Mike Wallace was one of my heroes, with his trademark, hardball, go-for-the-throat style of interviewing. Was he going to be at my school, I wondered? Or, would it be one of the shows' other correspondents?
Soon enough, a production crew for 60 Minutes came out, and they talked to several of us about our school, and teaching math, in general. They were doing their homework, and I was pretty impressed. I was happy to know that as journalists, they lived up to everything I had heard about them.
Well, he did ask me a question as it turns out, but more on that in a minute. I didn't get to see Wallace, my hero, until after school let out, and I went up to the school library, where he was interviewing our department chair for the show. I waited around for a chance to talk, and finally I got to sit at a table with him. I couldn't muster the courage to ask for an autograph, but I sure wanted to! We talked for about 20 minutes. Nothing in particular, just general chit-chat, we shook hands, and I mentioned that I was a big fan of the show, from the time I was a kid, and my mom had it on, every Sunday. He seemed to have heard that kind of adoration a lot, but he was very generous with his time, while he waited to do more filming.
Finally, he asked me that question, as I mentioned above. World famous journalist Mike Wallace gave me that Mike Wallace look, and with that Mike Wallace voice, he said...
"Where's the can?"
Yes, the man who interviewed so many world leaders -- people like George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, LBJ, JFK, Manuel Noriega, the Ayatollah Khomeini, Menachem Begin, Anwar el-Sadat, Yasir Arafat, on and on and on... also put me in the hot seat. Er, sort of.
In 1990, I was a member of North Dallas High School's mathematics department. It was just my second year as a teacher, but I learned fast in the inner-city. Our department chairman, a man of much experience, was a big proponent of a series of textbooks published by a man named John Saxon. Our chairman contended that the Saxon texts, along with tutoring and committed teaching were responsible for improved student scores at NDHS. Because Saxon was a controversial maverick publisher, going up against math experts who rejected his books, "60 Minutes" deemed the story worthy for its show.
When I learned that the show was coming right to my own department, I became excited, to say the least. I was a huge fan, going back to my early teen years. Mike Wallace was one of my heroes, with his trademark, hardball, go-for-the-throat style of interviewing. Was he going to be at my school, I wondered? Or, would it be one of the shows' other correspondents?
Soon enough, a production crew for 60 Minutes came out, and they talked to several of us about our school, and teaching math, in general. They were doing their homework, and I was pretty impressed. I was happy to know that as journalists, they lived up to everything I had heard about them.
I think it was a week later, I was teaching class, and I heard an unmistakable voice from down the hall -- it was Mike Wallace! Wow! I hoped I could meet him! Was he going to ask me questions? What would I say if he did?
Well, he did ask me a question as it turns out, but more on that in a minute. I didn't get to see Wallace, my hero, until after school let out, and I went up to the school library, where he was interviewing our department chair for the show. I waited around for a chance to talk, and finally I got to sit at a table with him. I couldn't muster the courage to ask for an autograph, but I sure wanted to! We talked for about 20 minutes. Nothing in particular, just general chit-chat, we shook hands, and I mentioned that I was a big fan of the show, from the time I was a kid, and my mom had it on, every Sunday. He seemed to have heard that kind of adoration a lot, but he was very generous with his time, while he waited to do more filming.
Finally, he asked me that question, as I mentioned above. World famous journalist Mike Wallace gave me that Mike Wallace look, and with that Mike Wallace voice, he said...
"Where's the can?"
Yes, the man who interviewed so many world leaders -- people like George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, LBJ, JFK, Manuel Noriega, the Ayatollah Khomeini, Menachem Begin, Anwar el-Sadat, Yasir Arafat, on and on and on... also put me in the hot seat. Er, sort of.
I started to tell him, and then thought, ahh, what the hell, I might as well walk him downstairs and show him the way. I did, and he even said "thanks." I didn't lose my job, I didn't make the papers, but I will always remember that day.
Tick, tick, tick, tick...
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