TEACHER APPRECIATION: A FEW MINUTES WITH MR. BUCKLEY

A FEW MINUTES WITH MR. BUCKLEY

By Amanda (Rances) Wang ’96

In what ways have you and your teaching changed over the years? I started out teaching at an all boys school in Manhattan in 1972. When I transitioned here to this school (then St. Agnes), it was the first time I taught girls. I thought I had to be something else than I was. I forced myself to hold back instead of just being my usually vocal, and outgoing self. It was an adjustment, but once I realized I could be myself as a teacher, then everything became easier. The more years you do it, the more confident and comfortable you become.

In the back of your mind, however, there’s always the possibility you run into a class that’s going to be a disaster and too tough to handle. I’m never so cocky as to think that I’ve got it all made. Once you think you’ve figured it all out — there’s too much hubris there. As I’ve told some of the teachers, never feel like you mastered it; it just doesn’t work that way.

What do you think is the key to opening up a student to a world of learning? I tried to get the students to be themselves, and I want them to see me for who I am as well — that I’m just trying to be myself and not trying to put on any airs. I’ve always respected the kids so I have to continue to keep respecting each kid as an individual.

As Fr. Phillip always says, you have to be passionate in what you do. If you’re passionate about teaching the subject, I think it translates. They see the passion and maybe a few of them become passionate themselves. If they don’t get passionate about European History, maybe it translates over to something else, whether it’s another subject, Science Olympiad, or even a sport.

I love what I’m doing and I continue to love what I’m doing. Even when I got killed in the classroom early in my transition from the city to Long Island, I knew I was supposed to be doing this. Even when I was in high school, I knew I wanted to become a teacher. I was very much influenced by the teachers who taught me.

Did you have a favorite teacher growing up? I have so many teachers who were influential. Even if the person wasn’t a great teacher, if he or she was a good person, they influenced me. In high school one of the best teachers I had was named Brother Roland Dubois. He taught religion and geometry. He was an outstanding math teacher. There was no way that I was going to get 100% on geometry regents exams, but he was very good and very concerned about the kids. He played sports with the kids — he was like one of the regular guys. He was tough but you knew he was looking out for his students. There were so many great, influential teachers and what they had in common is that they had just been themselves. I loved the education I got.

What is the best part about being a teacher? I obviously enjoy the teaching, and I just retired from coaching a er 40 years — I love all that stuff. I loved the people I work with. I mean you’re not going to love everybody but I really enjoy the people. And I do really like the kids. They’re basically good kids. I get the easiest and smartest kids; they’re personable. Here at Kellenberg, there’s a great Christian atmosphere. And I’m a practicing Catholic and this school has all these things for the kids. It exposes them to this great foundation. A lot of them are going to go to college and say, “The heck with it!” but there’s always that foundation they can come back to.

And here, the atmosphere is unbelievably safe compared to other places. If people notice someone getting picked on or something, somebody tries to do something. People are