Mr. Bitner's Core Class

I first fell in love with "Government" in Mr. Bitner's seventh grade Core class which also consisted of the studies of English and History. I may have lived in the shadow of the great white buildings of Washington, DC; but until Mr. Bitner's class, they were little more than tourist attractions for visiting relatives.

It wasn't so much the learning of democratic functions, but the way in which Mr. Bitner strode between the rows of desks drawing each of our faces to meet the passion in his eyes. The very air of Mr. Bitner's class was charged with the electric current of minds wanting to know more.

Current Events Monday were filled with the metal ring opening of notebooks, the placement of pencils on the desk, folded clipped articles spread smooth, best posture presented in the hopes of being called. The chance to Let Freedom Ring.

In Mr. Bitner's class intelligence was the commodity of popularity. We strove to be our best, we strove for hard won praise. We glimpsed into our own adult futures for the very first time and set our childhood ways aside knowingly.

A love of learning to last a lifetime. A teacher I admire to this very day.

This trio just make me smile!