I cannot believe how vividly I remember several JHS teachers:

Mr. Hannon, my homeroom teacher and one semester of chemistry:  tall, elderly, laconic.  I believe he died of cancer during senior year, or shortly thereafter.  If you bet a friend you could make him say more than five words at a time, you would lose.

Mr. Rose, taught American History XH class, as well as an elective in History of Western Civilization (very incorrect subject now of course).  He was a liberal depression era baby but had wide knowledge and a good sense of humor.  You always felt that Aaron Rose with a Phd might have been a good professor at a quality liberal arts college.

Mr. Neidich, taught tenth grade world history XH class.  Joked around quite a bit, especially with the late, brilliant Rickie Wolf, who was a four year student and must have been in his class for ninth grade too.  As I recall, they traded Yidishisms.

Mrs. Barmak, taught English XH in a very emotional, over-the-top manner, but her enthusiasm was infectious.  She would read poetry in class as if she were trying out for the Old Vic.

Mrs. Joseph, also taught English XH.  She was quite stern and humorless but gave us our first tough term paper assignment, demanding that we use footnotes, turn in both the note cards and bibliography.  She picked the subject for each student.  I was lucky she gave me Robert Frost, because my parents had a whole shelf of his works (some signed) as well as some critical studies of early 20th Century American lit.  I was very pleased with the grade she gave me, especially as my report was shorter than those of my peers.  I learned a little lesson there:  I didn't like term papers, but if you had to do em, don't worry about size.  As a procrastinator, I was glad my mom was an expert editorial typist.  The thing got done on a Sunday night, of course.

Miss Sirocco taught a public speaking elective.  Of course this was a gut course -- I should have taken Latin or more math, but we enjoyed it, not only for her youthful enthusiasm, but also because she was a real 1950s beauty with a figure she never tried to hide in her pencil skirts and jersey blouses.

Miss? was a new teacher who taught a senior elective in World Literature.  Her assignments were very well chosen:  for example, Crime and Punishment.  This was a very serious, attractive young woman, in her early twenties,  I hope she went on to get an advanced degree and teach at a higher level.

The coaches:  Shifman, Tom Lovely, Larry Ellis (went on to coach at Princeton and US Olympic track -- son was a Rhodes Scholar).

Anyone out there remember these?  Others?  The kindly bio teacher who ran the Westinghouse program?  THe elderly geometry teacher?

Jason Gettinger '60