My high school Math Teacher

Although it's been many years since I last attended high school, I’m reminded that sometimes those institutions can change your life. Or in my case, sometimes a teacher can.

My parents bought a house and we moved across the city which meant that I changed schools in Grade 8. I was the New Kid entering a well established neighbourhood and school. I was exposed to a more academic culture. My marks improved. I loved it! I was not the most popular girl in my school, but I sought out a clique of girls who I’m still in touch with. I was dyslexic and wasn’t well coordinated so therefore I wan’t a jock, although I was a cheerleader! So who was I?

My junior high academic record qualified me for an experimental math program in my high school. Dr. Bailey was my math teacher through the 3 years of high school. He changed my life.

Every class he conducted had a pattern: he proposed a question, we explored the problem, and he ended the class with a climax = the answer.

Dr. Bailey was a quiet spoken, elegant man. I did my best for him. He taught me many things. One day I chose to answer a question. My answer was -

It’s not this, and it’s not that …

Dr. Bailey interrupted me to say -

What something is not, is not what it is.

Indeed. A life lesson.

He asked me and three other students to stay late one day to write an exam. We all said “yes!”. It was the MSAT exam. I had no idea what it was or why it might be important, but I still remember some of the questions. I scored well!

When I was preparing to enter University as my girlfriends were doing, I wrote a series of aptitude exams to answer my question -

What do I want to do for the rest of my life?

The University’s psychologist told me I was the perfect medical doctor. “Nope”, I said. “I can’t see those long latin medical words, let alone remember them. It’s my dyslexia!” The psychologist was very angry with me and said: “I don’t care what you do. Just take an Honours program!”

And I did. It was Honours Math! I’ve never regretted my choice. Thank you Dr. Bailey!