Most, who read this title will have a hard time at first deciphering what a bowling ball has to do with a great teacher. Mr. Bernasconi was a young, energetic, 8th grade science teacher. He had his own family at home, but he made us his daytime family. With him we learned about science, life, and ourselves. He used more hands on teaching methods, he had respect in the classroom while at the same time built friendships, our problems became his, and he made our happiness his business.
My first two years in middle school science classes were dry and not to mention tiresome. I received little more than a good grade and an indention in my middle finger from all the notes. The first day in Mr.Bernasconi’s class, I knew I had finally found what I had been hoping for. A teacher that wasn’t afraid to use new techniques in the classroom or let a little dust form on the book. Not to say we never used the book, but he didn’t expect us to make our text our friends as other teachers did. He introduced us to knew source material from journals and the internet, instead of just the book. We once had an egg drop to learn more about the force of gravity. We couldn’t find a ladder so with a boost from a couple guys in the class he climbed up on the roof. Instead of giving up, he found another way for us to carry out our experiment. I learned more in Mr. Bernasconi’s science class than any other. In fact, some of what he taught me in 8th grade, I was later able to use it in my 10th grade physics class.
I respected Mr. Bernasconi because he didn’t outright demand it. He was the first teacher who didn’t have a terminator approach, he was so honest and down to earth that I could do nothing more than respect him. In class, he gave the class the respect that we deserved and likewise we did with him as well. If we didn’t particularly feel that decision was fair, he would listen to our complaints and reformat his decision if necessary. He also was not afraid to become a friend. Mr. Bernasconi coached the boy’s soccer team and thus he was close to them. On occasion he could be found at the bowling ally with the boys helping us all to see that teachers are real people. He had his own sons which made it easier for him to understand why we thought and acted the way we did, more importantly he never criticized.
If you ask any of us from Mr.Bernasconi’s class I’m sure they will remember the bowling ball. Mr. Bernasconi went to a garage sale one day, and the blue and red swirled ball that he bought became our very heavy hall pass. Of course we thought it was great, but the administration wasn’t so pleased. They wanted it to have the teacher name and room on it and as usual Mr. Bernasconi had an answer. He once again climbed on the roof and dropped it, until it broke in half. On the inside of each half, he wrote his name and the room number, problem solved. I appreciated the fact that he didn’t conform to the stiff mold that made me dislike other teachers, but modified the standard.
When it was time to move on to high school, Mr. Bernasconi gave me a little reminder of my 8th grade science class. He broke the bowling ball into even more pieces, handed a piece to me, and till this day I have it. The blue and red swirl reminds me of a lesson learned which has stayed with me. As I begin to learn how to be a successful teacher, I remember Mr. Bernasconi. He was never afraid to try something new and innovative. It is unlikely that I will ever climb a roof to drop and egg or bowling ball, but I will one day be in the situation of helping every child in my class to learn. I can only hope and work to be the teacher that everyone remembers because I tried something bold, pushed the limits, and at the same time helped my students learn something.
-- Jeness Holloway , Florida Atlantic University