IN 1968,PARK FORESTWAS A POST WWII BEDROOM COMMUNITY THAT WAS PLANNED AND DOCUMENTED EXTENSIVELY.THE OUTCOME OF HOW THIS INFLUENCED OUR EDUCATIONAL ENVIORNMENT IS STILL AN INTERPRETATION BY EACH INDIVIDUAL. HOW DID HIGH SCOOL INFLUENCE ME?LET ME EXPLAIN CAREER CHOICE INFLUENCED BY RICH EAST HIGH SCHOOL.
MY LOCKER WAS OPEN WITH A PLAYBOY CENTERFOLD
MS DECEMBER1967.A HAND WAS REACHING [N BEHIND ME TO TEAR IT OFF!I SHUT MY LOCKER ON THE HAND.THIS WAS A BIG MISTAKE.MY HEAD SEEMED TO BOUNCE OFF THE LOCKER AS A MAN STATED"WHAT THE
HELL DID YOU DO THAT FOR?"THE BACK OF MY NECK WAS REDIRECTED LIKE A PUPPET AS HE CALMLY STATED HE WOULD NOT EXPEL ME,MUCH TO MY RELIEF. INSTEAD,I WOULD BE AN AIDE FOR HIS CLASS DURING MY HOMEROOM TIME.THE MAN WAS MR.TERRY CRONIS,SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER.
REMEMBER THE SPECIAL EDUCATION ROOM?THEN IT WAS CALLED THE BARN,THE FUNNY FARM,OR OTHER SO
POLITICALLY CORRECT STATEMENTS ABOUT THE SPECIAL EDUCATION ROOM.FEAR GRIPPED ME ON THE FIRST DAY WHEN I REPORTED TO WORK AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT AIDE.I THEN LEARNED A LOT ABOUT PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND MYSELF.THANK YOU MR.CRONIS WHEVER YOU ARE!
I HAVE HAD A CAREER TEACHING SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR OVER 30 YEARS.AFTER EARNING MY BS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION AT ISU(CLASS OF 72).I TAUGHT PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WHILE SERVING AS A VOCATIONAL TEACHER.I TAUGHT THOSE WHO WERE MENTALLY ILL AND NGRI(NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY) IN A STATE OF ILLONOIS MENTAL HOSPITAL.AFTER THE STATE CLOSED THE HOSPITAL,I TAUGHT FIRST THROUGH SIXTH GRADE AT STATE OF ILLONIS WOMENS PRISON.
I HAVE A WONDERFUL AND LOVING WIFE OF 36 YEARS.I COULD NOT HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR WITHOUT HER FAITH AND DETERMINATION!SHE HAS A BS IN NURSING AND HELD A MANAGEMENT POSITION AT CATERPILLAR.TODAY,MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH RETIRED.
WE LIVE FOR THE JOY OF EACH DAY.WE HAVE TWO CHILDREN,RACHAEL 32 AND CLINT 28.GERRI (ROSE) GUILDENHAAR,ANDPAUL LYDEN(CLASS OF 68) ARE GODPARENTSTO OUR CHILDREN,AND ARE WONDERFUL FRIENDS.I WANT TO SAY SPECIAL HI TO A GOOD PERSON,PEGGY(TEDDER)KILLACHY(CLASS OF 68).
MY WISH FOR ALL IS TO LIVE LONG AND BREAK EVEN!
MIKE JONES