- Jerry Cascio-Hitchcock, 92, continues the lesson, driven by a passion for education.
- Cascio-Hitchcock’s career began suddenly, leading to eternal love for teaching.
- It emphasizes the importance of pursuing passions and accepts its privileged background.
This essay as a strong is based on a conversation with (Marline) Jerry Cascio-Hitchcock, a 92-year-old teacher based in New York City. The following is edited for length and clarity.
Two things have made my 60-year-old teaching career possible: First, I really fell in love with teaching.
I was an early childhood teacher for many years, and when I felt at the top of my game, I discovered that I was more interested in children with learning difficulties. Other teachers would explain that a student had been terrible and I would say, “This is interesting.”
Secondly, I could change my focus, so I didn’t bored. There are always new challenges in school.
I am still not upset – at the age of 92, I have not retired yet.
I haven’t planned to become a teacher
I went to Oberlin, did work in office and thought to be a librarian. When my son was in kindergarten school, I was invited to help. I fell in love with the lesson.
To my surprise, I decided to become a teacher. I graduated with a degree in English literature and a minor in history.
When I started, I loved it very much. I remember walking home one day and thinking, “wow, I can’t believe I’m paid to do it.”
I learned in Churchill, a school for children with learning disabilities for two years before I went into private lessons. Then I joined Lrei, a school in Manhattan, nearly 20 years ago.
I work five days a week. My walk usually lasts 30 minutes, though I allow 45 to go to work. I did summer lessons, but now I rest during the summer.
I tell my students find something they love
When my students ask, “Should what should I do?” I always say, “Find something you love.” If you are privileged how much you need to follow what you want and make some sacrifices to do it, make it. Those who can be so lucky, and I consider myself among them.
My husband worked at the Off-Broadway theater and I didn’t bring much money. At one point, we lived below the poverty level with our two children, but my family was good. They rarely helped us financially, but we were lucky to know they could help if needed. This is what generating wealth can do.
I am very aware of this, and I always mention my students because I work in a private school. Many come from families like mine, and they are not always aware.
Today, I share a teaching center with two other teachers
We have regular classes with students with learning disabilities. Our open plan keeps the learning center open from 8am to 5 in the afternoon every child can come at any time.
We see that some of the smartest children in the classroom come to the aid of math. It reduces stigma for other children with deeper learning issues because they know that someone can enter at any time.
Almost half of our students have a kind of learning disability
These are attractive kids and I’m fascinated by them. The human brain is so specific – you think you know the models, but then you get a baby who is good at some things and not others. It is not my duty to understand how better to teach them.
When I started teaching, dyslexia was recently determined, with good research showing which parts of the brain use good readers and how they use parts of problems with problems – and they are different.
We teachers have said this for years: it is not that this child is not trying; They are just doing it differently.
Many children have crippled anxiety as well
I remember when I was in high school, we were not so worried for many reasons. Today, children are so worried about the tests. Some even avoid school. There are often bigger reasons, such as the two children I have worked with, both of whom have recently lost their fathers.
Social media is such a great deal of anxiety. We are simply understanding how devastating can be destructive social media for adolescents. One thing we have done at my school this year is for the children to check their phones when they enter, and they do not get them again until they leave.
I’m lucky to have never had that problem. I like to read books. I use the Internet for email and some research, which is great, but that’s it.
The reason for my long career is that I love it
I come to work so happy every day and wonder how many people do the same.
One day, a girl who took the regents exam called me when she got her results. It was in front of the mobile phones. She went to the nearest phone and said, “Jerry, we got an 85!” I told her that ‘we’ didn’t – it was everything.
I was offered good money to go to the school administration, but it’s not for me. Work on the table is all I hate. I am lucky to have been able to remove these offers; Many good teachers cannot be for financial reasons. I am very privileged.
There will be a point with my health when I retire
Thank you kindness my mind is good, but my infrastructure is getting tired. Learning is becoming more severe every day. I noticed that I am tired of the weekend, and walking the stairs of the subway is getting harder.
Hopefully, it’s not the next year. I would like to see this a math student whom I helped during her new year graduates.
The head of the school and I talked about the pension a while ago. She said, “Jerry, you’ll never retire.” We imagined the students coming to my office and realized I was still on my table, but I was cold and blue and wouldn’t talk to them.
When I retire, I will not make many trips, but I would like to write about my experiences. I would like to write about my mother, which I was very close to and which I think was interesting. This is mostly just for me, but I would also like to share it with my friends and children.