Comments on: Hello, is this thing on? http://harts.net/reece/2010/01/23/hello-is-this-thing-on/ Sat, 16 Apr 2011 17:59:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ted Eisenberg http://harts.net/reece/2010/01/23/hello-is-this-thing-on/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Ted Eisenberg Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:45:10 +0000 http://www.harts.net/reece/wp/?p=59#comment-12 Mr. Pribnow was my freshmen algebra teacher in 1956 in North Chicago, Illinois; he was also the tennis coach and I wanted to impress him both in the classroom and on the court. ( But in the end I don’t think I impressed him in either category; it’s pretty hard to impress someone in freshman algebra–and our tennis team was terrible.) Still, I really liked Mr. Pribnow and I learned a lot from him. I recall him often staring at the board, shaking the chalk in his left hand, and then approaching the board with some new attack on the problem. I recall him being a lefty, and I have no idea why this has stuck in my mind all of these years. He taught me freshmen algebra, but what I think what I learned most from him was to think a bit before starting a problem, and to look back at your answer once you have completed the problem. I went on to become a mathematics educator and I attribute the kindling of my interest in mathematics and teaching to Mr. Pribnow A few years ago I tracked him down and wrote him a letter. He wrote back saying that he vaguely remembered me, but maybe he was just being kind. Anyway, after all of these years, he is still in my mind. If you happen to see him, please give him my regards; he still remains an inspiration to me. BTW, is the picture on your site that of Mr. Pribnow or of Curly? Mr. Pribnow was my freshmen algebra teacher in 1956 in North Chicago, Illinois; he was also the tennis coach and I wanted to impress him both in the classroom and on the court. ( But in the end I don’t think I impressed him in either category; it’s pretty hard to impress someone in freshman algebra–and our tennis team was terrible.)

Still, I really liked Mr. Pribnow and I learned a lot from him. I recall him often staring at the board, shaking the chalk in his left hand, and then approaching the board with some new
attack on the problem. I recall him being a lefty, and I have no idea why this has stuck in my mind all of these years. He taught me freshmen algebra, but what I think what I learned most from him was to think a bit before starting a problem, and to look back at your answer once you have completed the problem.

I went on to become a mathematics educator and I attribute the kindling of my interest in mathematics and teaching to Mr. Pribnow A few years ago I tracked him down and wrote him a letter. He wrote back saying that he vaguely remembered me, but maybe he was just being kind.

Anyway, after all of these years, he is still in my mind. If you happen to see him, please give him my regards; he still remains an inspiration to me.

BTW, is the picture on your site that of Mr. Pribnow or of Curly?

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