ECHOES
Issue 7 April 2012
The Independent Voice of Abraham Lincoln High School
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Maher Announces Retirement By Suzanne Peterson Executive Reporter
“I thought it was time,” Assistant Principal Fred Maher said. Starting his teaching career in 1961, Maher has decided to retire. In honor of Maher retiring, there will be “Pass It On” week from April 23 through April 27. During that week, all the values and impact Maher has taught over the years will be recognized. “I’m embarrassed about this whole thing; that’s just me. I don’t like attention. Forget and move on,” Maher said. Everyone might have their own opinions of Mr. Maher, but he will never be forgotten by many. “He’s a good listener, and he’s very forgiving,” Michael Corrin ‘15 said. “It’s kinda sad to see him go. We won’t be familiar with the new person in office.” A close friend to Maher, Administrative Assistant Aileen Hatcher is sad to see him leave, but knows it’s time for him to go. “I started at A.L in 1987, but worked side by side with him since January 2000. In December of 1999, he and Mrs. (Melanie) Shellberg asked me to apply for this job, and I didn’t think about doing it. I thank them because this is the best decision I’ve ever made,” Hatcher said. “He treats everybody the same. He doesn’t care who or what you are to him. To him, you’re all the same. He’s the kindest, nicest man you’ll ever meet, and he’ll do anything in his power for anybody.” Hatcher feels that Maher has impacted many students throughout his career.
“To this day, so many people stop and ask if he still works here; I’ll say yes. Lots of kids will come back and visit, and say to him ‘I wish I would have listened to you in high school and would of changed.’” Many people see Maher as the kind of guy that will listen to what you have to say. “In 2004, when my father died, I couldn’t even look him in the eye. I think of him as a father figure . Everybody’s going to miss him. We had long discussions about his daughter, his first wife that passed away, health issues, personal life; he’s so easy to talk to. We’ve just had wonderful times, and I enjoy working with him,” Hatcher said. Maher knew the field of education was right for him. Even when he was a kid, he wanted to help others, and was trying to always create peace in the neighborhood. “Explaining my job in one sentence will be very hard to do. I like everything about my job. Every day is exciting. There’s no such thing as a new day in high school. Working here, I learned about myself that I don’t like to give up.” Respected by many students and staff, Maher will be missed, and remembered. “I think he’s awesome. He brings a lot of maturity, fairness, good judgement and character to the staff. Mr. Maher’s kind but stern, it’ll definitely be hard to fill his shoes,” Industrial Tech teacher Dan Fee said. Maher offered a piece of advice to all: “Build good character. Honestly, your character often speaks for you.”
Fred Maher who has been with the district for 50 years, recently announced that he is retiring. Photo by Hayley Hochstetler.
“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.”- Flavia Weedn.
Freshmen receiving awards for good behavior
ALechoes.com
What’s Inside:
Teachers want their students to do well in school and not slack off all the time, so they give special rewards to those who do work hard and do well in their studies. They also offer incentives to motivate the students that aren’t so ambitious in their studies. “They do get rewards for doing what they’re supposed to as long as they do them well and incentives show their work is appreciated.
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Students will receive Google Chromes at the beginning of next year.
It’s part of getting freshmen on the right track.” said Mike McIntosh, a Freshmen English teacher. Students from team Lincoln, did not get an incentive second trimester because the Lincoln team teachers felt the freshmen didn’t appreciate the incentives the first trimester. Team Abraham has had incentives for both first and second trimesters. There is a possibility that Team Lincoln
will be getting an incentive this trimester that deals with the release of the movie, “The Hunger Games.” These incentives may be helping push kids harder to do their work and may be helping get kids to straighten out their attitudes. “I think students should do their work anyways, but incentives would help the less ambitious students do work,” Brock Anderson ‘12 said.
6 7 11 &
Echoes takes a look at Kony 2012 and all the hype with it.
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Since the beginning of the school year, freshmen have been getting special treats such as a movie day during first trimester to reward them for what the district requires them to do. But is it really fair to everyone else?
these special rewards for granted. Freshmen teachers think that if the students do what they are supposed to do and do the right things, they should be rewarded. Teachers hold a high expectation of students that do get incentives. They expect the students to be on time to class and do their work. They also expect a student to serve their demerits and not have an outstanding number of them.
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Reporter
Many of the upperclassmen would agree that freshmen shouldn’t be the only ones getting incentives. “It’s unfair only us freshmen get incentives. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors deserve them too. They go to this school just like us,” Chanel Zarate ‘15 said. However, these incentives may be helping some freshmen do their work, but some others are taking
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By Maddi Martinez
Spring time means pass time. Athletes face ineligibility.