Perspectives on Childhood, Education, and Parenting: Off to Another Fine Start

Perspectives on Childhood, Education, and Parenting: Off to Another Fine Start

By Tom Northrup

Tom Northrup

As an educator for most of my life, September—not January—has marked the first month of the year for me. A fresh start, a new beginning for school, new challenges.

In thinking about what to write for this “back to school” edition of ZEST, memories of my first faculty meeting, over a half century ago, became powerful and vivid. Fresh out of college with no experience, I had been hired to teach fourth grade and to coach basketball and track at a Kindergarten through Grade Twelve independent school in Philadelphia.

The opening meeting in September was held in the school’s library, a formal wood-paneled room with a walk-in fireplace and a long, dark rectangular wood table, which seated about sixteen. The headmaster sat at one end, with his back to a stained-glass window. As I entered, it was apparent that those sitting at the table were the more senior faculty members. I would be seeking a place, along with thirty or so others, on the outskirts.

Nervous and somewhat intimidated, my mind wasn’t processing much of the content or discussion. However, I do recall that one of the veteran teachers made a comment I strongly disagreed with, and I debated whether to raise my hand to speak. Summoning courage, with my heart pounding, I made my point. For the remainder of the meeting my brain was replaying and editing what I had said, and wishing that I had not spoken.

After the meeting, Dan Charles, a longtime and beloved history teacher in his 60s, introduced himself, put his arm around my shoulders, and said, “Tom, I’m glad you are with us and hope you enjoy teaching as much as I have. It’s a great life.”

In his book, “The Culture Code,” Daniel Coyle explains the conditions which outstanding workplaces embody. The first, and the one I believe most essential, is “to build safety—and create a sense of belonging.”

Until he died five years later, Dan Charles continued to check in with me to see how I was getting along, to offer encouragement, and to help me learn the craft of teaching. He became crucial to my sense of being part of the school from the very beginning.

After his death, the school yearbook had a page dedicated to him, with his picture, and a caption which read, “Somehow you can’t believe that he’s not just around the corner.”

After every class, Dan Charles was outside his classroom in the hallway, greeting, observing, conversing with his students and colleagues.

He was an outstanding history teacher, both knowledgeable and inspiring. His students loved his class, and they consistently performed well on standardized tests.

But perhaps his most significant and enduring legacy was the lesson his students and fellow teachers learned from him in the hallway outside his classroom, “around the corner”—the importance of feeling you belong. His presence, day after day, communicated a profound message—he wanted to be with us, we counted, students and teachers.

It became important to me to try to carry forward what I learned from him. What a fortunate way to start a career.

Long-time educator Tom Northrup is Head of School Emeritus at The Hill School in Middleburg.