I taught chemistry, back in the day, and learned some, which I was subsequently privileged to share as a teacher. As an old coot, let me share some thoughts about some of the folks I learned from.
By the way, I will never forget one thought about learning chemistry I received on my first day teaching high school, to wit: “chemistry is the hardest course in high school”. Say what? Made me think about some of my professors back then.
Chester Kremer, my freshman instructor, commenting about an exam he had graded, “Slaughter on Convent Avenue”. Ha Ha. Seems like bragging. Did the poor result by chance have anything to do with his teaching?
David Perlman, organic chemistry, senior year. I was looking for a job
with the Food and Drug Administration, and had requested permission to list him as a reference: ”Why didn’t you tell me you were looking for a job?”, like, why would anybody want to work for the government? For an inexperienced tyro, it turned out rather well, thank you. Professor Perlman was an excellent teacher, BTW.
Professor Julius Kuck: Had him on Saturdays, starting at 8AM. Yuck! Turned out to be one of the best I ever had. For each class, he bought doughnuts and “soluble coffee”, aka instant. We brewed a few liters in beakers used solely for that purpose, a total No No! Professor Kuck was unusual in that he had a real job with a chemical company
Professor Sylvester Liotta: Taught physical chemistry, whenever he felt like it, which wasn’t often. Was, instead, a walking indictment of what’s wrong with granting professors tenure. He taught, mostly, lab courses. Easiest place to hide non-performers in those days.
Professor Bembry, first name lost in the fog of memory. Had him for organic chemistry, and quantitative analysis. Rumors at that time were that he had suffered a trauma involving a child of his, and never recovered. Only teacher I ever had who lectured totally without eye contact. Another tenure case.
George Weiner. CCNY downtown (an exile from the main campus, UPtown), who probably saved my bacon: he, in effect reversed Kremer’s grade D by granting a grade of B (really should have been an A, but I was in my screw-up freshman phase). Professor Weiner‘s approach to teaching actually made the course work intelligible. To say nothing about his dry wit.
Perhaps you have noticed: No females, not in the “hard” sciences, anyway. Not that uncommon back then. As I have observed recently, more women than men are receiving advanced degrees in science these days. T’aint funny, guys. Having had the pleasure of teaching many women, I am thrilled at their work ethic. I am pleased that we are, finally, making use of the talent available in the other half of the human race.I taught chemistry, back in the day, and learned some, which I was subsequently privileged to share as a teacher. As an old coot, let me share some thoughts about some of the folks I learned from.
By the way, I will never forget one thought about learning chemistry I received on my first day teaching high school, to wit: “chemistry is the hardest course in high school”. Say what? Made me think about some of my professors back then.
Chester Kremer, my freshman instructor, commenting about an exam he had graded, “Slaughter on Convent Avenue”. Ha Ha. Seems like bragging. Did the poor result by chance have anything to do with his teaching?
David Perlman, organic chemistry, senior year. I was looking for a job
with the Food and Drug Administration, and had requested permission to list him as a reference: ”Why didn’t you tell me you were looking for a job?”, like, why would anybody want to work for the government? For an inexperienced tyro, it turned out rather well, thank you. Professor Perlman was an excellent teacher, BTW.
Professor Julius Kuck: Had him on Saturdays, starting at 8AM. Yuck! Turned out to be one of the best I ever had. For each class, he bought doughnuts and “soluble coffee”, aka instant. We brewed a few liters in beakers used solely for that purpose, a total No No! Professor Kuck was unusual in that he had a real job with a chemical company
Professor Sylvester Liotta: Taught physical chemistry, whenever he felt like it, which wasn’t often. Was, instead, a walking indictment of what’s wrong with granting professors tenure. He taught, mostly, lab courses. Easiest place to hide non-performers in those days.
Professor Bembry, first name lost in the fog of memory. Had him for organic chemistry, and quantitative analysis. Rumors at that time were that he had suffered a trauma involving a child of his, and never recovered. Only teacher I ever had who lectured totally without eye contact. Another tenure case.
George Weiner. CCNY downtown (an exile from the main campus, UPtown), who probably saved my bacon: he, in effect reversed Kremer’s grade D by granting a grade of B (really should have been an A, but I was in my screw-up freshman phase). Professor Weiner‘s approach to teaching actually made the course work intelligible. To say nothing about his dry wit.
Perhaps you have noticed: No females, not in the “hard” sciences, anyway. Not that uncommon back then. As I have observed recently, more women than men are receiving advanced degrees in science these days. T’aint funny, guys. Having had the pleasure of teaching many women, I am thrilled at their work ethic. I am pleased that we are, finally, making use of the talent available in the other half of the human race.I taught chemistry, back in the day, and learned some, which I was subsequently privileged to share as a teacher. As an old coot, let me share some thoughts about some of the folks I learned from.
By the way, I will never forget one thought about learning chemistry I received on my first day teaching high school, to wit: “chemistry is the hardest course in high school”. Say what? Made me think about some of my professors back then.
Chester Kremer, my freshman instructor, commenting about an exam he had graded, “Slaughter on Convent Avenue”. Ha Ha. Seems like bragging. Did the poor result by chance have anything to do with his teaching?
David Perlman, organic chemistry, senior year. I was looking for a job
with the Food and Drug Administration, and had requested permission to list him as a reference: ”Why didn’t you tell me you were looking for a job?”, like, why would anybody want to work for the government? For an inexperienced tyro, it turned out rather well, thank you. Professor Perlman was an excellent teacher, BTW.
Professor Julius Kuck: Had him on Saturdays, starting at 8AM. Yuck! Turned out to be one of the best I ever had. For each class, he bought doughnuts and “soluble coffee”, aka instant. We brewed a few liters in beakers used solely for that purpose, a total No No! Professor Kuck was unusual in that he had a real job with a chemical company
Professor Sylvester Liotta: Taught physical chemistry, whenever he felt like it, which wasn’t often. Was, instead, a walking indictment of what’s wrong with granting professors tenure. He taught, mostly, lab courses. Easiest place to hide non-performers in those days.
Professor Bembry, first name lost in the fog of memory. Had him for organic chemistry, and quantitative analysis. Rumors at that time were that he had suffered a trauma involving a child of his, and never recovered. Only teacher I ever had who lectured totally without eye contact. Another tenure case.
George Weiner. CCNY downtown (an exile from the main campus, UPtown), who probably saved my bacon: he, in effect reversed Kremer’s grade D by granting a grade of B (really should have been an A, but I was in my screw-up freshman phase). Professor Weiner‘s approach to teaching actually made the course work intelligible. To say nothing about his dry wit.
Perhaps you have noticed: No females, not in the “hard” sciences, anyway. Not that uncommon back then. As I have observed recently, more women than men are receiving advanced degrees in science these days. T’aint funny, guys. Having had the pleasure of teaching many women, I am thrilled at their work ethic. I am pleased that we are, finally, making use of the talent available in the other half of the human race.I taught chemistry, back in the day, and learned some, which I was subsequently privileged to share as a teacher. As an old coot, let me share some thoughts about some of the folks I learned from.
By the way, I will never forget one thought about learning chemistry I received on my first day teaching high school, to wit: “chemistry is the hardest course in high school”. Say what? Made me think about some of my professors back then.
Chester Kremer, my freshman instructor, commenting about an exam he had graded, “Slaughter on Convent Avenue”. Ha Ha. Seems like bragging. Did the poor result by chance have anything to do with his teaching?
David Perlman, organic chemistry, senior year. I was looking for a job
with the Food and Drug Administration, and had requested permission to list him as a reference: ”Why didn’t you tell me you were looking for a job?”, like, why would anybody want to work for the government? For an inexperienced tyro, it turned out rather well, thank you. Professor Perlman was an excellent teacher, BTW.
Professor Julius Kuck: Had him on Saturdays, starting at 8AM. Yuck! Turned out to be one of the best I ever had. For each class, he bought doughnuts and “soluble coffee”, aka instant. We brewed a few liters in beakers used solely for that purpose, a total No No! Professor Kuck was unusual in that he had a real job with a chemical company
Professor Sylvester Liotta: Taught physical chemistry, whenever he felt like it, which wasn’t often. Was, instead, a walking indictment of what’s wrong with granting professors tenure. He taught, mostly, lab courses. Easiest place to hide non-performers in those days.
Professor Bembry, first name lost in the fog of memory. Had him for organic chemistry, and quantitative analysis. Rumors at that time were that he had suffered a trauma involving a child of his, and never recovered. Only teacher I ever had who lectured totally without eye contact. Another tenure case.
George Weiner. CCNY downtown (an exile from the main campus, UPtown), who probably saved my bacon: he, in effect reversed Kremer’s grade D by granting a grade of B (really should have been an A, but I was in my screw-up freshman phase). Professor Weiner‘s approach to teaching actually made the course work intelligible. To say nothing about his dry wit.
Perhaps you have noticed: No females, not in the “hard” sciences, anyway. Not that uncommon back then. As I have observed recently, more women than men are receiving advanced degrees in science these days. T’aint funny, guys. Having had the pleasure of teaching many women, I am thrilled at their work ethic. I am pleased that we are, finally, making use of the talent available in the other half of the human race.
Rogernarc 