North Platte, Neb. (Knop/ Gray News) – A beloved science teacher hangs up his laboratory blouse after more than 40 years of teaching.
Over the past 42 years, Jim Bauer has traveled the corridors of St. Patrick secondary school in the Catholic school district of North Platte. He taught students a variety of subjects in the field of science.
Bauer’s teacher career began at St. Patrick high school in the early 1980s. This spring marked its latest semester for school teaching.
“I always liked science, I liked to study science,” he said. “I didn’t necessarily want to earn a living by doing science, and I also appreciated people, so I started looking for opportunities in education.”
Bauer has spent his entire career over 42 years in teaching at St. Patrick high school.
“I didn’t really plan to go elsewhere, I didn’t really do it, I really enjoyed it,” he said. “Leadership during my mandate at Saint Pat’s was excellent and very favorable, and ultimately, the support of the administration and the parents is essential. Parents send them here for a reason, and they will also support you. ”
Throughout the 40 years and more that he has spent teaching, technological progress has not only changed his teaching style, but also the way in which his students learn.
“When I started to teach, I wrote everything in the notes cards and wrote on the Babillard,” he said. “I learned to write on the board over my shoulder, so I didn’t have to turn my back on the class. It is very different with the spotlight and this kind of thing. ”
Bauer said that a highlight of his teaching was to monitor the growth of his students.
“You get them like little seventh year students, but when they become juniors and seniors, they become good Christian adults, then you send them on their way and start again,” said Bauer. “You do not teach the sciences, you teach children, and each class is different, and each student is different. Science is just the reason they are in my class. ”
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