Mr. Boehm

Mr. Boehm was young, which may be why his methods were a little different then the other teachers at Panther Lake Elementary School.

One of the first things that Mr. Boehm did was to replace the 
classroom desks with several large round wooden tables.
Around these tables, students discussed politics, world affairs, history, and many other subjects.

Study and  reading time was often done to the accompaniment of Simon and Garfunkel and Classical music.

On frequent field trips, we visited museums, The Seattle Symphony and Opera House, and the University of Washington campus. While waiting for the bus after a visit to the Pike Place Market, we struck up a conversation with some men who were drinking on the side of the road. I think our parents would have been horrified.

Mr. Boehm loved Shakespeare and when we had a little extra time, we would go to an auditorium and he would perform all the parts of one of The Bard's plays.  

I have only seen Mr. Boehm once since Elementary school, but wherever he is now, I hope that he is doing well.

Book Review- "When Comes the Spring" by Janette Oke

I don't really care for women's romantic fiction, but I am a big fan of writer Janette Oke. Ms. Oke's novels are chaste compared to most women's modern fiction, but she is extremely skillful at portraying the intimacy between a husband and wife even without the graphic descriptions of sex.

In Ms. Oke's novel "When Comes the Spring", young schoolteacher Elizabeth marries Wynn- a Canadian "Mountie" and they move to a  northern Canadian territory.

Most of the residents of the couple's new home are natives and Elizabeth has trouble adjusting to a different language and culture.There are also the inevitable conflicts that arise in a new marriage.

Ms. Oke's faith in God is part of her writing, but she doesn't sugar coat anything. There are hardships and not always easy answers, but there is an assurance that with love and a little faith, things can get better.