Be kind to English teachers

I found one of my high school teachers on Facebook last summer.

I was in Mr. Brandt's Honors English class during my sophomore year. It was my favorite class because he encouraged a lot of debate among the students. I learned a lot about syntax, Eastern philosophy and how to diplomatically disagree with my peers.

But even though I found that class to be one of the most challenging and engaging of my high school career, I also thought Mr. Brandt was a big-time nerd. I mean, the guy wore a tie to school EVERY DAY. I was 15. I knew everything, and I knew a dork when I saw one.

It's funny the things you think you know when you're full of adolescent angst. Thankfully, a lot has changed since then. Today, after years of working as a professional journalist, I credit two of my high school English teachers, Mr. Brandt and Mr. Ferrero, with helping me fall in love with the written word.

So as you can imagine, it was a great delight for me to connect with Mr. Brandt on Facebook since we'd lost touch after graduation. Here's what I posted on his Wall this morning:

Mr. Brandt, you probably don't even remember this--when I was in your class so many years ago, you spotted a romance novel on my desk and gave me a hard time. It was one of those really explicit ones with the steamy covers. You know, Fabio with his hair blowing in the wind, wearing a fancy, pirate-like blouse, his chest exposed. He always had some damsel in his arms, her bosom popping out of her corset.

Anyway, you asked if my parents knew I was reading that stuff. In that obnoxious smart-alecky way, I said no, and that they probably wouldn't care. (I was a rebellious teenager, after all.) You didn’t skip a beat, and responded, unflappably, with, "Well, at least you're reading. Carry on."

I don't know why but that exchange has stayed with me all these years.

I may have known everything when I was 15 and I may not know much now as an adult, but I do know this: the 15-year-old Cat was wrong--Mr. Brandt is one of the coolest cats on campus. Much cooler than Fabio.

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