I was a first-year English instructor in 1973 at my alma mater -- that
school year began with the Kenosha teachers going on strike. I participated
in the strike until a court order mandated teachers return to the classroom.
I decided to honor that court order (since I was a rookie without tenure)
after some in-depth discussions with my more seasoned colleagues (Terry
Lawler, John Schmidt, etc.) who had lived through similar situations in
the past.
Clarence warmly welcomed me when I entered
Tremper that first day while most of my colleagues continued to walk the
picket lines. He sincerely reassured me that both of my decisions
were the right ones given the circumstances . . . to participate in the
strike with my peers and to comply with the court order. He never
belittled me for participating in the strike.
Unlike many other tenured instructors who
crossed the picket lines in this and previous strikes, I was never ostracized
by the teaching staff during my seven years as a Tremper English Instructor
. . . they understood what it meant to be a rookie fresh out of college
faced with the traumatic decision I had to make in September of 1973.
The following three years I taught at Tremper
under Clarence's leadership were crucial as I established my teaching standards
and methodology -- his guidance proved invaluable. He became a trusted
mentor to me, gently nudging me in the right direction when I needed it
(or quite firmly placing a figurative foot in my rear when it was called
for). At times, he made Herculean efforts to protect me from the
political inequities, both within the District and without, with the ferocity
only a parent exhibits toward their offspring. (Clarence must have
been a wonderful father, too. His oldest daughter was a student of
mine and she was one of the great ones.)
His efforts -- along with Russ Draeger's
-- were instrumental during my developmental phase as a teacher.
I remember the last teacher workday at the end of the 1976 school year
when Clarence and I shook hands and wished each other a great summer break
. . . he looked very tired and I instinctively knew something was amiss.
His passing left a huge void.
Doug Ketchum
Tremper Class of 1969
Tremper English Instructor, 1973 to
1980
