I was not the kid that asked a million questions. I was telling my student in class this week that I think the last question I asked during class was 7th grade math class. The teacher was talking about multiplying by a fraction. To this point in time, every problem where I multiplied by a value, the first number got bigger. And I am telling you that I could compare numbers. Was my strength and still is my strength.

So I boldly asked what I did not understand, “If we are multiplying, how could the number get smaller?”

The teacher tried explaining something that I have no recall of what it was, only that it did not clear up my thinking. So, I asked it again? His response that I would see it soon crushed me. I ask, you answer. Isn’t that how this works? Sad, but as I said, I did not ask another question in class again. I let others ask and that usually worked. Especially in College Organic Chemistry.

There were 10 weeks in the quarter so it was always weird that there were three midterms and a final. Our professor was saying, “Our first midterm will be on chapters 1-5.”

A kid in the first row shot his hand up. “Aren’t we on chapter 4 now?”

“Yes,” came the response, “so you will have to read and learn chapter 5 on your own.

Second midterm was coming and the professor again explained the material to be tested as, “Our second midterm will be on chapters 6-10.”

Same kid shoots the hand up, “Aren’t we only on chapter 7 now?”

No success. We were again to read and study the remaining chapters.

“Our third midterm will be on chapters 11-15,” was the announcement we were all dreading.

A bolt of lightning could not have struck faster than that kid’s hand went up. “Aren’t we only on chapter 10?” The tone was one of agony this time, as if he had attracted lightning with the hand.

“Yes, we are on chapter 10 so you will have to read and study all of the material on your own for this midterm.” There was a serious pause with no hand going up.

But the question came blurting out, “WHY?”

His response made no sense to us then, and as a teacher now, I am worse for having heard his horrible logic. He was in power in his class and no one else. This was now my 20th class taken and none of them operated under his false premises.

Let’s add another mystery to his methods. I got my first midterm back and scored an 89/200. The class was so large that it took him almost 20 minutes o pass out the tests. We all needed a change of socks from crying while we waited. Then he put the grade scale on the board. A 70 was a D, a 77 was a C, an 85 was a B, my score was a B+. Unbelievable. I went back to my room, changed my socks, and went to watch Mash on the dorm TV.

I got a B+ in that course and have never been so proud of a grade, including all of my A’s getting a masters and doctorate degrees.

Have a Happy Friday.