A true learning experience

When I left for college 70 years ago a friend said that the best thing that I would get was what I got off the walls.

Of course, he was talking about the experiences that I would have, meeting people from all over the world and people who were unlike me. He was only partially right.

I had some good professors, ones that I still remember.

I had two survey profs, one in Old Testament studies and the other in sociology, both under class subjects. My sociology prof had used the same notes for probably 30 years but he welcomed questions. I think he enjoyed young people. My prof in Old Testament knew it all so you were not to pose any questions.

I was 25 when I started as a freshman. My philosophy prof was barely older than I was.

He and I hunted ducks and fished for bass in the Boise River, that is until he suggested that I use some of that time studying for his class.

He was in trouble with the administration because he didn’t allow anyone to mess with what he taught and how he taught it. He only lasted two years.

My favorite was my journalism prof. She was tough and required a lot of extra work, always requiring that you explained what you were writing about.

One of my favorites, my literature prof could make the printed page come alive, regardless the content.

My speech prof was funny, but you were always a victim. We had to present a five-minute and a 10-minute speech while he stood in the back of the room and yelled out everything you did wrong.

Yes, there were a lot of off-the-wall experiences, but on the whole the profs were very capable.