Records, and History, and a Calling

As some of you know, Michael Pollock, whom I adore and have known since I was about 19 years old, is very ill. There is a facebook page and so many people have written messages or talked about memories. It is beyond moving....I even had my colleague Nancy crying and she doesn't even know him! What has been eye opening to me, as someone who knew him through Record Service, is the incredible impact he has had as a teacher. He left Record Service a couple of years before it closed I guess and began teaching History at Urbana High School. It's really inspiring to me because it's as though he found his true calling. What a gift that has been to him, and those who have been his students. Ernie and I read through the posts and just look at each other, and  all Ernie can say is, "I want him to teach Leo and Owen!"

Yesterday was Michael's last day in the classroom I can't even imagine how emotional that must have been. One of the posts on the page last night was from Dan Bechtel. I'm hoping, since the page is public, that  he doesn't mind me sharing this here, because I found it to be a wonderful summation of everything Michael has brought to his teaching.

Pics from Michael's 5th hour American government class today. In 10 years teaching with Pollock and countless hours spent together talking, planning, and sharing disdain for meetings together, this was the first time that I had a chance to watch him teach.

You know when you hear people over sell a movie and you finally watch it, and are disappointed?

This certainly did not happen today. Pollock, you are unbe-frikkin-lievable. Everything everyone says is true. In the course of a lesson on civil liberties, we discussed Miranda rights, the OJ trial, hung juries, double jeopardy, how Pollock got a speeding ticket and why it was his fault. We watched clips from the Chapelle show and Blazing Saddles, and all of this followed him beginning the class with setting off a Fart machine that he had hidden under a student's chair.

I have been holding tears at bay all week. While watching him teach, I was just so in awe that I couldn't do more than just appreciate a master at his craft. But when class wrapped up, and he began to say goodbye to his students, I had to look away to compose myself ( and I lost it after I left the room).

To say you will be missed does not do the phrase justice. Thanks for all you have given us my friend.

                                                                                                                            ~Dan Bechtel

Thank you Dan, and thank you to all that have written loving and funny and heartfelt messages for Michael.

I love you Michael. I love you Renee.