Robert E. (Bob) Koster

Andy, it looks like you've got it nailed, all figured out.  You must be some intellect to synthesize all the socioeconomic data and get such a clear, definitive, and insightful picture of American life.  Personally, that loser thing worries me.  It's not something you can catch, is it?  Cause I used to hang out with a lot of people who are losers according to you, and I never got inoculated against the loser disease.  Now that I think about it, I still hang out with people who are losers based on your criteria.  They always seemed like decent, hardworking, people who raised families and did their best to ensure their children had values that would serve them well in life.  They even helped me in my life.  Now I'm really worried.  I bet that once you have this loser disease, you don't even know it.  Then you're really lost, cause you don't even know enough to avoid them. If only I had gone to one of your lectures, I might have been saved.  Now I know have the disease, because I feel sick.  Pardon me while I puke.

I know.  I probably missed your point, and the anger I felt after reading your comments is totally misplaced and out of line.  In my ignorance, I just misunderstood you.  I hope so.

Dan Goodenow

Andy,

I have to agree with Brian, Chris and Nancy.  For example, I currently work 2 part time jobs.  I'm certainly not a loser because of that!  I could be a loser in other aspects of life or thought of as a loser by some, but it would have nothing to do with my employment.

You have to admitb that people of all backgrounds and in all types of situations work part-time.  You are absolutely incorrectly generalizing on this.

Additionally, I'd like to suggest that your postings be more positive; especially about fellow classmates.  Also, nobody needs to hear your griping.  What purpose does it serve?  We understand your PCS experience wasn't all that you wished it had been and that in spite of it, in your eyes, you've attained much success and fulfillment in later years.  No need to keep drumming that in to us.  We get it...

I think what we, or at least I like to read is more of the positive or funny rememberances from classmates.  There is no reason to tear people down, (ie: Dennison), particularily when you offer scant substantiation.

Let's try to keep it positve, fun and emotionally healthy.

Dan

Ps:  My first fulltime job after college was for $55.00 a week.  I was happy with that and supported myself 100%. Over the years, I've had many part time jobs.  Additionally, 2 of my kids graduated from community college and went on to get their 4 year degree while working more or less full time.  They now have full time jobs in their respective fields.  I hope you encourage all of your students to do similar and don't stereotype or pigeonhole certain ones into a "loser" bracket.  I do agree with you that, what I call the "try" factor, is an important trait in one's life.  Gotta try....

Chris Lupinetti (Huntoon)

Norma J. Dexter (Dexter)

I have to weigh in on this one too. Andy seems to place value on people based only on their level of education and their financial status. This is a typical attitude from a PCS kid. I did not finish college either but I have had some great careers and like Chris have had a wonderful fulfilled life. I  currently work as a tax coordinator for a 5 billion dollar corporation and I don't judge people or call anyone a loser. I'm very active in my church and in my off time I  founded and run a food pantry for those who are not able to feed themselves or their families. I don't see them as losers. Some of them are veterans who cannot take care of themselves with their megar incomes but they work and many of them for minimum wage. Andy, I feel sad for you. You seem to have a lot of negative baggage in your life. People were not very kind to me in high school either but they have not shaped who I am or caused me to be judgemental. If anything it has made me a very compassionate and accepting person

Norma Dexter.

Nancy Topham (Mueller)

Nancy Topham (Mueller)

Dan Goodenow

Hey, just to change the topic, does anyone have a funny story about that apple vending machine outside the cafeteria.  My 3 boys always thought it was so funny with me having an apple machine in my high school. To add to the fun, I used to say that I would run to get one when they filled it up because there was so much demand and they would run out of apples.  I would also say I saved my lunch allowance to sometimes buy an extra to put on one of my teacher's desk. They would laugh and think dad was so uncool. Of course that was back when they were in junior high and consuming as much junk food as possible. 

Now, in their mid twenties, they are all into kale, spinach and so on. How things change...

Dan

Doug P. Allen

I happen to agree with Dan here.  Andy...choose to accept this or not, but your initial use of the term "loser" was quite clear, or at least not explained in greater detail by you.

I think most of us are happy with our high school experiences - even those that weren't positive, because they taught us a great deal.  I've heard from others who aren't posting that you seem a bit "bitter".  Hopefully that's not the case, but hey... why would anyone hang on to the terrible slights visited on us 50 years ago?  

What I'm most interested in is not who has the most money, who has the best job, best salary, most stock, the most impressive position...but on how we have evolved as people.  After all, nothing that we have, nothing that we've accumulated really matters.  What does matter is what kind of people we have become.

Doug Allen

John Hitchcock

Andy and the rest of you goody two shoes,

My experience in high school was not the best, but I did not let it shape my life or deter me from striving to do my best in life. I graduated from high school and entered the military and served my country (like many others of you probably should've done). I worked my way up from an apprenticeship to become the executive director of an organization with over 500 people. I also was divorced but remarried and was able to retire at age 57 with a very comfortable retirement. No college but a lot of hard work.

I have attended many of the class reunions and have enjoyed talking with many of the old classmates. You have to be comfortable with yourself and in your own skin and it's very obvious you are not.

I like many others on this forum would like to hear positive postings not the garbage I have been reading.

Pat Stagnitto (Perez)

Well, Andy, since you've given us a "choice", I'd say you're an "asshole" with some of your remarks, and an arrogant one, at that. And the more you try to elaborate, the worse it gets. STOP!

Andy G. Hollinger

Alrighty then -

Peggy Hughes (St. James)

We may have talked this one out. Normally I am all in when it comes to controversy, but I suggest we move to another topic before comments are made that irreparably affect our class cohesiveness. Another topic suggestion. Most memorable teacher at Pittsford Sutherland and why?  

Paul North (North)

Dan:

Apple Machine?  I can visualize it.

The red deliciious were the best.  Good and crisp.  The thing I remember is Mr. Leno agreeing to help me with Trig after school.  He and I sat in his classroom.  I understood about 50% of what he said, but I will never forget him leaning back, putting his feet up on his desk and taking a big bite out of one of those crisp apples while he explained the mysteries of math to me.  What a great guy.  

One of the best decisions I ever made was dropping Physics (as a senior) and taking typing.  I am a romantic poet and musician at heart. 2nd semester was the continuous Yuchre game in the senior lunge.  I haven't played since, but I have to say it was fun and better than sitting in a study hall.

What happened to Mr. Leno, Mrs. Hamm, Valentine Anzalone, Mr. McCauliffe, and others.  I often regret that I did not ever visit the school and express my appreciation to them (being a teacher my self) for their dedication.

If any of our teachers ever read this stuff..(and you survived the smoke pouring out of the teacher's lounge).THANKS>

Ellen S. Schwalenstocker (Schwalenstocker)

Most memorable for me is probably Mrs. Hamm - She got us to think and poured herself into activities like drama club. Mr. Hazlet was a bit on the dry side as I recall, but he sure taught us how to write a coherent paragraph. If you took his class, do you remember having to meet with him one-on-one so he could critique your work? INTIMIDATING  I was amazed when I got to college and found out how many of my fellow students did not benefit from someone taking the time to teach them how to write. Years ago, when I was working as a salesclerk at J.C Penneys during the summer, I acually "waited" on Mr. Hazlett and tried to thank him, but just made him all embarrassed. And I'll never forget Mr. Peleshi (even if I have forgotten how to spell his name). He was a dear man and very dedicated to his students. Being the unconfident person I was back in those days, he urged me to take AP Spanish, saying "what are you lazy?" 

Later in life, I had mentors that reminded me of some of those teachers and who made an immense difference in my life. I would not have made it out of graduate school without my magical advisory committee. Kudos to dedicated teachers everywhere.

And thanks for redirecting the conversation, Peggy!

Peggy Hughes (St. James)

Paul North, my mother Mary Hughes, Business teacher at PCS, was so frustrated that more college-bound students weren't directed to typing class. Who knew back then how keyboarding would become the "key" to just about everything we now do on computers!!

David 0. Hughes

Peggy;

I took your mother's typing class.  The fact that I am doing this right now is tribute to her!  And Ellen, I have always prided myself on being able to write well, which requires thinking well first.  I must have picked that up at PCS, although I have no specific memory of that.  I do recall American History class in the auditorium with all of the history teachers participating, dressed up in some vague political dress, probably teaching American Government. It was interactive and I enjoyed it.  And, I should have taken spanish, not german.  I am trying to learn now, making good progress, but it would have been so much easier if I had done that 45 years ago!

Dan Goodenow

Paul, Peggy:

Yes, Leno was a really great teacher.  Missing that 1/2 of freshman year, I had geometry junior year.  It was the one math that I did pretty good in.  He was very helpful after class, but I also think that at least for me, geometry was visual and I could understand the shapes, angles and so on.  The other courses like algebra, trig, and later calculus and so on were like foreign languages and eventually made me switch from engineering to architecture in college. Speaking of languages, I struggled with French!  I think it was Miss. Sheehan who tried to teach me.  She thought I was better than I was because she knew my mother was a French war bride and my older sister, Mary had aced her classes ahead of me.  Lord knows how I passed the French Regents exam.    

As for typing, I was one of those fumble fingers that just saw it as a pain.  I never studied it and still type with two fingers.  Back in HS, I had my dear, sweet, Ellen who typed like a champion.  She did it for me.  In college, I had another girlfriend who did all my typing the last four years and I did her advertising illustrations because she couldn't draw a lick.  It was a good trade.  Yes, keybording became a major and necessary work skill for a lot of us, but somehow I've been able to survive.  Funny thing is, and I haven't ever thought about it until now, is that my part time job in Boston involves editing specifications for about 80% of my time.  Peck away Dan...  How ironic is that.  One would think I'd learn to do it correctly, but you know what they say about old dogs. 

In 2008, I went back to school and got a continuing ed degree in "Architectural Technology" to catch up on a bunch of the new 3D and modeling software programs.  Maybe I would have been better off learning to keyboard!

I like the apple story and yes, if I remember, they were those big red ones and some green . That vending machine looked old to me even back then. I wonder where it came from and how long it was there?  In my mind it was grey or greenish grey in color.  Wouldn't it be a great find in a local antique or flea market?  How about if it turned up on The Antique Roadshow!  Let's find it and buy it!!  :)

Some memorable teachers for me were Homer Northrop (earth science),  Mrs Gilbert (english), Mrs. Harriette Young, (art) and David Storch, (math).  I think it was Storch who always gave us a long series of verbal calculations when the bell rang at the end of class.  No one was allowed to leave until someone answered it correctly.  I of course, just patiently sat there, acting and trying to look like my mind was working on a solution, (I imagine sort of like having that stupid look The Beaver used to have on TV when he was pondering something), just waiting for the correct answer to be given by a math wiz.  We all had and have our strengths and weaknesses, I guess...

Dan

David 0. Hughes

I just went back up through the several pages of this forum.....

Normally, this forum is pretty quiet unless a reunion is about to happen, or just happened.  Andy's post generated a lot of discussion which I have found very interesting.  Clearly there are strong feelings and disagreement with what has been posted, but I am not sure that is all bad.  Most of us have not seen one another very much in a long time.  We have all led lives and had experieinces that make us quite different than we were 47 years ago.  I am all for remembrances, and enjoy that they bring back memories or shed light on something that was going on under my nose that I did not see or know then. I also like, however, being taken out of my comfort zone sometimes.

We have beaten this one up sufficiently, I think, but the forum was used in a way that I have not seen before.  I hope that continues.

Peggy, what did you mean that you are usually all in for controversy?  Did I recall that comment correctly?

Dan Goodenow

John,

I agree with some of what you've said and most importantly the comment about service to our country.  I really think it would solve a lot of the current problems associatd with the later teen years in our country.  Mandatory service, military or non-military could help give direction to many of the young folks that seem lost, unfocused and so on.  It would also tend to  maybe give them a shared experience, confidence, leadership and problem solving skills and an understanding of others, less fortunate.  My two years, serving in Vista certainly helped to give me direction and a base to build on in later years.  I think it could do the same for many others.  There are a bunch of countries, Nigeria, for one, that do this. 

I bet Andy agrees with this idea...

Dan

Peggy Hughes (St. James)

Dave Hughes. Love controversy. Union Rep, one of the VP's of my teachers union, sat at the negotiating table. Always felt it was my duty to tell the emperor he wasn't wearing any clothes and most emperors don't appreciate it!  HaHa!  Really into social justice issues. Volunteered a lot on Hillary campaign. And so on. Now who expects that from a cheerleader.!  

Peggy Hughes (St. James)

STAY TUNED, Classmates. Kathy Lockwood will soon be posting notice of a Florida get together this March for snowbirds, vacationers, and residents of the sunshine state (and #1 state of wacky news). (Sorry, Kathy. Wanted to build up suspense)

Peggy Hughes (St. James)

Dave Hughes. Forgot to mention. Florida, where I did my teaching, is a southern right-to-work state. Influence of unions is not automatic. Not like NYSUT. Also, can't count the number of times the teachers were all riled up, legitimately, on this issue or that. Would talk to me privately so I'd get up in a faculty meeting and relay the concern. DEAD SILENCE from teachers. Heads down. 😮

Doug P. Allen

I'm pretty late to the party on favorite teachers.... I had one definite favorite..... Sally Covington.  What a personality and a fearless woman.....teaching Black History in a pretty white school!    Mr. Glossner...English teacher and Debate Coach was always encouraging, but really.... with her bright smile, and engaging approach to her students, Sally Covington is one I will always remember and one I wish I had not lost touch with! (please excuse ending that in a preposition!)

Ellen S. Schwalenstocker (Schwalenstocker)

I never had Ms. Covington. However, my younger sister Nancy and my much younger neice Amy both had her at Mendon and continue to name her as one of their best teachers ever (something about diagramming sentences . . . ) My sister Nancy became an English major and was very inspired by Sally Covington. I agree  with others that typing was a most useful class. I think I took it in summer school, and I don't think I had your Mom as the teacher, Peggy. My neice still talks about Miss Conway, who also moved over to Mendon and was an extremely talented choreographer. 

Mike Rose

I'm going to weigh in but stay away from controversy !   I had Sally Covington for Black History senior year.  She was great and got us thinking outside our white world a little.  David Clark ( he of Aston Martin fame ) brought Skakespeare to life for me.  Rodney Taylor tried to teach me to write creatively  ( failed,  but it was fun ! )

Just 3 that stand out for me.   PS.   Peggy,   I failed your mother's typing class and am still paying for to this day!