By Mike Bloomdahl
Mr. Norm Garneau taught in Mini-School for the nine years before this one. There are still plenty of kids in Mini-School who knew him, liked him, and miss him. He went back to teaching mainstream English classes this year. Some of the students in Mini- School were wondering how he’s doing and how the year has been for him. This interview should bring everyone up to date on Norm.
Q. Norm, why did you decide to teach mainstream this year?
A.I found Mini-School very interesting and challenging but it was time for a change. I needed a change of pace.
Q. What do you like about Mini-School as opposed to mainstream or mainstream as opposed to Mini-School?
A. Mainstream is more academically oriented than Mini-School and parents of mainctream kids often expect more. The attendance problem is about the same in each program. Mini-School teaches more self-reliance and is more concerned with all aspects of the student than just academics.
Q. Do you ever plan to return to Mini- School?
A. No, I don’t think so. I only plan on teaching two, three, maybe four years more. Mainstream is my final resting place as far as school is concerned and it’s very disruptive to the administration if a teacher keeps switching classes.
Q. How do you feel about the way Mini-School is run and organized?
A. I’ve always thought it was a good program. It fills a need for a lot of kids. Doug, Randy, and Lester are great people and very dedicated people. Mini-School couldn’t be done any differently or better than it’s being done.
Q. What are your plans after you retire?
A. I’m going to get a 26-foot recreational vehicle and travel 6 to 8 months of the year with my wife, Jane.
Q. Jane is retiring too?
A. Yes. She told me she won’t work a day longer that I do.
Q. I know your son, Joe. Do you have other kids?
A. Yes, Jane and I have eight. Joe is the youngest and he’s graduating from Minnetonka this year and is going to college. So after this year all my kids will be out of the nest.
Q. What’s your idea of the perfect student?
A. One who is interested in learning, has goals, and most of all has an active mind that is always open to new things. So many students close their minds and say, “It’s BORING.”
Q. Who is a person you really look up to?
A. Tom Bauman. He is principal at Hopkins. He used to be a student, teacher and principal at this school. He was a good person, was always fair, and was really interested in how education was progressing into the 20th century. I don’t think education has progressed much since the 18th century and I find that pretty depressing.
We’re all glad to hear that things are going O.K. for you, Norm. That mainstream isn’t driving you crazy. Thank you for all you added to Mini-School in the years you taught here. Hope you can make it to the Mini-School Reunion and Recognition Night.