Woodburn: Teacher Appreciation Day comes early

Woody Woodburn

Columnist

You have probably seen a bumper sticker proclaiming “If You Can Read This, Thank A Teacher” or a sentient similar.

Coach John Wooden, no less, believed teaching to be the world’s second-most important profession behind parenting.

And yet, teachers constantly feel overworked, underpaid and underappreciated. The first two positions are probably true, but the latter I argue is not. It’s just that the appreciation too often goes unexpressed.

This opinion was fortified recently when a simple question was posed on the “I Grew Up In Ventura” Facebook page: “Remember PE teacher McFadden from Balboa Middle School who passed away from cancer and the gym was named after him — is the name logo still on the gym?”

More Woodburn:

One answer would have sufficed: Yes, it is still called Harold R. McFadden Gym.

Instead, an avalanche of appreciation poured in. If more than 100 posted replies do not impress you, understand that “Coach Mac” passed away 36 years ago. That is a lasting legacy.

“Great teacher and wonderful role model!” commented Brian James Toohey.

“Coach had an amazing impact on so many lives,” wrote Richard Johnston.

Ken Crown is an evidence, noting: “In the early ’70s when it wasn’t cool to be a Boy Scout, I asked Coach Mac if he could help me earn my Athletics merit badge. He graciously stayed after school for a couple days timing and measuring my runs and jumps. One of my life’s great role models for sure.”

“Coach Mac had a sense of humor, he was a great coach, was always giving encouragement to us,” shared Jim Matiniez.

“He was such a great teacher/man,” posted Ann Romero.

David Hobert saw him as a father figure, sharing: “My dad passed away when I was in eighth grade and afterward Coach McFadden was really good to me. He sat with me at lunch; came to my house to check on me and make sure I was doing homework; played Ping-Pong a few times and he was a world-class player! Super good guy.”

“I can hear his voice clear as day,” posted Drew Herron.

Steve McFadden offered this insight: “I truly believe my dad was able to connect with most students, but I think his forte as a teacher was to recognize when a particular student was ‘struggling’ in his or her life and maybe needed a little TLC or attention. He also had a ‘soft spot’ in his heart for students that were making the wrong choices or beginning to head down the wrong path for whatever reason. He would try to intervene and counsel as an attempt to hopefully get the student to recognize the poor choices and realize there are people who do care.”

I was blessed to have Harold McFadden for Physical Education five of my six semesters at Balboa Junior High in the early 1970s. He had such a lasting impact on me that I wrote a full a chapter about him in my memoir “Wooden & Me: Life Lessons from My Two-Decade Friendship with the Legendary Coach and Humanitarian to Help ‘Make Each Day Your Masterpiece.’ ” Coach Mac, too, taught valuable life lessons.

While he was exceptional, Mr. McFadden is not the exception. We all have a teacher, or teachers, who are life-changers. This year’s National Teacher Appreciation Day is not until May 5 — that gives us all plenty of time to write a note of appreciation for a special teacher, either handwritten or by email or through social media.

As others and I have done regarding Coach Mac, don’t wait until it’s too late to express your gratitude.

Woody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@gmail.com. His books are available at www.WoodyWoodburn.com.