Ramsey Resident - 1985 - September/October

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,......... Tri.City Newsletter, September/October 1985 - Page 21 Lappin Looks Back Over 36 Years On the same day that the late Superintendent Morris Bye offered him a teaching job in Anoka School District 1, the General Mills Corporation ask- ed Garth Lappin to come and work for them. With little hesitation, he picked the teaching job. Though that was nearly 36 years ago, Lappin says he never once regretted his de- cision to go into education. "They have been 36 very ful- filling years," remarked Lappin as he looked back on a career in education that ended last spring when he retired from his position as director of secondary education. The first of his family to get a college education, Lappin grew up on a farm near Leroy, Minnesota and attended a small country school there. "My father was of the opinion that I should stay on the farm and not go to high school," recalled Lappin. "I stayed until I was 18 and then I said, 'Dad, I'm going to high school whether you like it or not.' I wasn't satisfied with an eighth grade education. There was so much more I wanted to learn." The owner of a clothing store in Cresco, Iowa, offered him a jOb and a chance to at- tend high school there. Lappin took him up on the offer. "As an 18-year-old ninth grader, it was a good thing I was small," he laughed. After two years of Garth Lappin high school, Lappin enlisted in the' Navy and took correspon- dence courses through the University of Michigan to re- ceive his high school diploma. He served in the South Pacific during World War II and then had duty in Boston where he attended night classes in math, science and economics at Northeastern University. After his discharge from the Navy he earned a degree at the University of Minnesota and accepted a job teaching history and coaching wrestl- ing at Anoka High School in 1949, three years before Anoka schools were consolidated wi,th others to form Anoka- Hennepin School District 11. Lappin also served as a counselor at Anoka Junior High and was the first princi- pal at both Coon Rapids Junior and Coon Rapids Senior High Schools. He was appointed coordinator of secondary curriculum in 1967 and direc- tor of secondary education in 1971. Lappin has seen many changes during his years here. One big change is simply that of size -- the district grew from six to 35 schools. In his work as a junior high counselor, Lappin started the district's ,first remedial reading pro- gram. "I secured teachers to come after school to work with kids. Their parents paid for the tutoring," he said. "We now have a tremendous special ed- ucation program to meet all those needs." He has found it satisfying to watch girls athletics develop into a comprehensive pro- gram. "At first there was nothing ,for girls but cheer- leading. It is wonderful to see them taking part and excelling in many sp.orts," said Lappin. Perhaps the biggest growth he has seen has been in the area of curriculum. "There is no doubt our schools are much better today. There is just no comparison., Biology classes in the 50's consisted of one textbook -- no micro- scopes, no cultures, no speci- mens. Now our schools offer marvelous courses for stu- dents," he said. "While it is true that there are some kids who are gradu- ated without all the skills they need, we are keeping kids in school today who years ago would simply have dropped out." Lappin said his years in the district will leave him with "a memory treasure house that is filled." He pointed to many highlights of his career -- win- ning the first state wrestling championship, being selected to coordinate the 1972 Olym- pic wrestling trials and follow- ing the team to Munich, open- ing Coon Rapids Junior and Coon Rapids Senior High Bradley Retires After 32 Years I J _ Sharing his enthusiasm for science with young people has been Lyle Bradley's life for over 30 years. Apparently that enthusiasm has rubbed off. At last count, Bradley knew of about 100 former students who had gone into science careers. Even more than dinosaur bones and the, dangers of hypothermia, Bradley likes to talk about former students. There are geophysicists and geologists, foresters, an osteologist, doctors and nurses, nutritionists, a cancer researcher, an ornithologist, wildlife experts, many museum workers and of course, a number of science teachers. In his retirement at the end of the school year, Bradley stopped, to reflect on his 32 years in Anoka-Hennepin, first as a science teacher and later as secondary science consul- tant. Bradley's interest in science and his love of a good argu- ment began when he spent summers and weekends on his uncles' farms in Iowa. Like most farmers, his uncles used to say the only good hawk was a dead hawk -- hawks were chicken thieves. Bradley prov- ed them wrong by dissecting a red-tailed hawk his uncle had shot and examining the stom- ach contents -- he found fur, chance for an intensive hands- but no feathers. on study of science and relat- After graduating from high ed fields. school, Bradley attended the "The field trips really turned University of Dubuque until many students on to science," called to serve as a pilot in said Bradley. The trips gave marine aviation during World students more than just a War II. After the war he wanted broader knowledge of science. to go to medical school but Bradley recalls a student who didn't have the "straight A" decided to go into medicine, average required for admis- commenting that if it hadn't sion, so he majored in zoo- been for this field trip, he ology instead at Iowa State wouldn't have even con- University. He was just begin- sidered medical school. "He' ning graduate school when the told me it gave him so much Korean War broke out and he confidence in himself that he was recalled to active duty. felt he could do anything," After the war he found that recalled Bradley. there were no jobs in wildlife Even when he left the class- zoology/so his advisor encour- . room to become the district aged him tO'go into education. secondary science consultant He is now glad he took that -- part time in 1976, full time in advice, "If I had to live my life 1980 -- he continued to lead a over again, I would jump into summer field trip group for science education without many years. hesitation. In education every While he became an admini- day is a new learning experi- strator, Bradley says his heart ence. You learn something has always been in the class- from your students, and you room. "The teachers are the hope they learn'from you," he ones who make it happen for said. students. I still believe teach- Bradley started his teaching ing young people is the single career at Anoka High School most important profession in in 1953, teaching seventh, the country. I feel good being eighth, ninth and tenth grade just a small part of that," he science. said. He is perhaps the best Bradley is pleased with the known -- around the state and improvements that he has across the nation -- for the seen in school since he finish- summer western field trips he ed high school. "In our high instituted to give students a school biology class, we didn't have a single living or dead organism -- unless you count the students," he joked. "Without a doubt, every disci- pline is better by far than when I was in school," he said. "When they say we aren't doing as good a jOb at educat- ing students, I say that's a lot of baloney. Sure there are some dead heads in our class- es, but they were there when I was in school too, in fact, I was probably one of them. "Students today are ahead of where we were. Just the other day I judged a sixth grade science fair project on crystalography. I know a little bit about it, but the student could run circles around me. Schools and watching the first class graduate. "The class pre- sented me with my first class ring. It's something I will always treasure. Being involv- ed in selecting school colors and the school's song and working with a great parent group as we established Coon Rapids Senior High School as a place under the sun was very satisfying," said Lappin. He also enjoyed helping plan the construction of Anoka and Blaine High Schools as well as Northdale Junior High School. "I think I have been very for- tunate to have worked in this district. It's been very good to me. The relationships I have had with people here -- three superintendents, many prin- cipals, teachers, cooks, secre- taries and custodians n have all been special to me." Just as he went back to, school after quitting to work on the farm, Lappin again plans to head back to the classroom. "I want to take the courses I have always wanted to take. I have a special inter- est in Jewish history and I want to learn more about that," said Lappin. He also plans on doing some volunteer work for the Heart Associa- tion, helping his son who is opening a tennis and fitness club and spending some time at -his cabin "fishing and listening to the loons .. It's exciting to see students so interested and so eager to learn. That's what makes education special." Bradley doesn't expect to slow down after retirement. He wants to do some research and he plans on writing several books. He also plans on starting a science consul- tant service and he wants to facilitate the formation of a joint school district-county museum. "I, certainly don't plan to move to Florida or Arizona. I love Minnesota. The only thing I would add to make, it better is a range of snow capped moun- tains," he said. I I \ Lyle Bradley ~ 1 I I I I I I t I I 1 C 1 i -. --- -