NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutch High science teacher John Brown is retiring next month after 59 years in the district. Though obviously there have been many changes over a career that stretches back to before the moon landing, he does believe there are some things that are the same.
"Kids are kids," Brown said. "There's more distractions for a student today. You've got your cellphone, you have your internet, you have your social media, so they have a different span of interest. They move around a lot. But, as far as actually changing, students are students. The first students I had, what I can remember that far back, I don't see a lot of difference."
Brown teaches 9th grade honors Earth Science. He sees those students mature a lot over the course of that year.
"When they first come in, the maturity level is different than what a high school level is," Brown said. "Within about a month or month and a half, you start to see a large change in students. Of course, every student changes at a different rate. I guess I should say, matures in education at a different rate. Right now, I have a second trimester class and they are high school students."
The first group of students Brown taught are now 73 years old.
"I'm still close with a lot of the people I had in my first years," Brown said. "I keep wanting to say kids, but we're not kids. I still keep close tabs on some of them and it's very enjoyable. They are great people. It is hard to think about. It didn't hit me that they were that age until I started thinking about it here a few months ago."
Brown is looking forward to tinkering with some classic cars he owns in his retirement time. His last day with USD 308 is Feb. 24.
Below is a link to the interview with Brown.
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