http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_154_Teaching_Secrets.mp3 Dick Gordon will confess that he was something of a failure as a grade school teacher years ago. So he couldn't wait to get tips from Frank McCourt, who spent three decades as an English teacher in New York. Plone 2.0 http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_154_Teaching_Secrets.mp3/logo.jpg http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_154_Teaching_Secrets.mp3 <h4>Teaching Secrets</h4><p class="imageleft"><img class="image-left" src="resolveuid/0159155fa604302be2c50c7430258374" alt="Frank McCourt" height="133" width="100" />Frank McCourt</p><p>Before Frank McCourt became famous as the author of "Angela's Ashes" and "'Tis," he was for 30 years a high school English teacher in New York.  His book about that experience is "Teacher Man."</p><p>When McCourt's book tour took him to North Carolina, Dick was there to meet him at a stomping ground familiar to McCourt: a Catholic high school.  Dick watched as Frank enthralled the kids, provoked nervous laughter from the teachers, and showed everyone how to take command of a classroom. <br /></p><ul><li>Read about <a href="http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?sid=33&amp;pid=512629" target="_self">"Teacher Man"</a><br /></li></ul><a title="Add To This Story" class="addbtn" href="resolveuid/cc2a8297b6c0d5c86538f03c46448d35" target="_self">add to story</a><br /><h4>YOUR STORY - MEREDITH SORENSON </h4><br /><p>Shortly after she graduated, Meredith Sorenson decided to hike the Appalachian Trail - all 2,168 miles of it.</p><p>Meredith was three weeks into her journey when she met someone, or rather some thing, that changed her perspective on life.</p><blockquote><p>I remember it was a very sunny day, and there are these shelters along the Appalachian Trail, so I had pulled into a shelter, and taken out a granola bar. And I was leaning against the shelter, eating this granola bar, relishing each bite...</p></blockquote><p>Much to her surprise, the small creature she encountered changed the way she looked at life.</p><p><a title="Add To This Story" class="addbtn" href="resolveuid/cc2a8297b6c0d5c86538f03c46448d35" target="_self">add to story</a></p><h4>PRINCIPAL BY DAY…</h4><p><img class="image-left" src="../graphics/mervin-jenkins.jpg" alt="Mervin Jenkins" height="100" width="100" />Mervin Jenkins was heading for disaster as a young man. His life was dominated by drugs, and hanging out with his ultra-macho friends. His biggest dream was to become a rap star. But one day, a homeless man in the neighborhood called Mervin over. The man lectured Mervin on his reckless life. Something struck home, and Mervin had a series of turnaround moments. He veered away from the probability of living life behind bars, and eventually became a middle school principal. His conversation with Dick ends with the freestyle rap of Principal Mervin Jenkins.</p><p><a title="Add To This Story" class="addbtn" href="../addstory" target="_self">Add to Story</a></p> Mon, 01 Jan 2007 04:00:00