Math teacher made the correct career calculation
By SHAWN PIATEK
The Tribune-Democrat
Ralph Fetzer of Lorain had to think twice about his career choice shortly after he started teaching math at Johnstown Vo-Tech.Fetzer was earning a salary of only $7,200 when he began molding young minds in 1972. At the time, former classmates from Ferndale Area High School were making a much better living working at the city’s steel mills, which still were vibrant.“When I graduated from college in 1972, my cousin who went right into the mill out of high school and was making more money,” Fetzer said. “Of course, things did improve for me over time while they got a lot more challenging for him.”The collapse of the local steel industry was far from the only reason Fetzer has no regrets for spending 35 years as an educator. Being able to retire last month at age 57 was another perk, but the true enjoyment he got from his life’s work was how many lives he touched.Not only did Fetzer make a difference with students at vo-tech, he used his talents elsewhere as well. For the past four years, he operated Cambria County’s GED program and also spent time teaching math to employees in industrial settings.“I did enjoy it,” Fetzer said. “I loved helping people. “When I saw I made a difference in someone’s life, I was really satisfied by that. Even at the end when I helped some people to get their GED, they would come back to thank you. And you knew they appreciated you helping them.”He was selected in the late 1980s to help develop and grade the math portion of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exam.Additionally, Fetzer spent time during his career as a spokesman for math. Several times throughout his career, he addressed both national and state audiences on the importance of math and how students could expect to apply the discipline in their day-to-day lives as adults.“It was to show where math was used in real life,” Fetzer said. “I could show the students just where they would use it down the road. “I was probably fortunate as a math teacher because I worked right there at vo-tech where it was easy to show where math was used in disciplines such as electronics, carpentry and auto mechanics. “I think that’s something we’re missing in our schools,” he said.Fetzer even ventured briefly into coaching. For one year, he served as assistant gymnastics coach to his brother, Ernie, a well-known high school football coach in the region who is currently coaching at Penn Cambria.When the decision was made that vo-tech no longer would be a full-time high school, Fetzer adapted. During the past four years, he served in a position he described as “computer guy” for the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center.What was common in everything he did was finding ways to help people.“I just hoped I affected some lives and made them better,” Fetzer said.A month into retirement, Fetzer said he’s not exactly certain how he’s going to spend his time. He said he’s going to spend some time working on his family tree and will travel, but he still has an eye on finding ways he can continue to pitch in for the community.“I never liked to keep dormant,” he said. “I always like to be involved with something and to be out there doing something.”
Ralph Fetzer of Lorain had to think twice about his career choice shortly after he started teaching math at Johnstown Vo-Tech.Fetzer was earning a salary of only $7,200 when he began molding young minds in 1972. At the time, former classmates from Ferndale Area High School were making a much better living working at the city’s steel mills, which still were vibrant.“When I graduated from college in 1972, my cousin who went right into the mill out of high school and was making more money,” Fetzer said. “Of course, things did improve for me over time while they got a lot more challenging for him.”The collapse of the local steel industry was far from the only reason Fetzer has no regrets for spending 35 years as an educator. Being able to retire last month at age 57 was another perk, but the true enjoyment he got from his life’s work was how many lives he touched.Not only did Fetzer make a difference with students at vo-tech, he used his talents elsewhere as well. For the past four years, he operated Cambria County’s GED program and also spent time teaching math to employees in industrial settings.“I did enjoy it,” Fetzer said. “I loved helping people. “When I saw I made a difference in someone’s life, I was really satisfied by that. Even at the end when I helped some people to get their GED, they would come back to thank you. And you knew they appreciated you helping them.”He was selected in the late 1980s to help develop and grade the math portion of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exam.Additionally, Fetzer spent time during his career as a spokesman for math. Several times throughout his career, he addressed both national and state audiences on the importance of math and how students could expect to apply the discipline in their day-to-day lives as adults.“It was to show where math was used in real life,” Fetzer said. “I could show the students just where they would use it down the road. “I was probably fortunate as a math teacher because I worked right there at vo-tech where it was easy to show where math was used in disciplines such as electronics, carpentry and auto mechanics. “I think that’s something we’re missing in our schools,” he said.Fetzer even ventured briefly into coaching. For one year, he served as assistant gymnastics coach to his brother, Ernie, a well-known high school football coach in the region who is currently coaching at Penn Cambria.When the decision was made that vo-tech no longer would be a full-time high school, Fetzer adapted. During the past four years, he served in a position he described as “computer guy” for the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center.What was common in everything he did was finding ways to help people.“I just hoped I affected some lives and made them better,” Fetzer said.A month into retirement, Fetzer said he’s not exactly certain how he’s going to spend his time. He said he’s going to spend some time working on his family tree and will travel, but he still has an eye on finding ways he can continue to pitch in for the community.“I never liked to keep dormant,” he said. “I always like to be involved with something and to be out there doing something.”
1 comment:
Mr. Fetzer's fine accomplishments bring to mind that familiar Latin maxim, Defendit numerus, translated roughly, 'there is safety in numbers.'
Again, like another astute historian observes, "Like the crest of a peacock so is mathematics at the head of all knowledge."
Of course, there are those who have always opposed the intellectual superiority of mathematicians and engineers, consider this quote taken from an old Latin book:
"The good Christian should beware of mathematicians...danger already exists that the mathematicians have made a covenant with the devil to darken the spirit and to confine man in the bonds of Hell."
DeGenesi ad Litteram, Book II, xviii, 37
This thinking seems to have polluted the minds of many young Americans, sending them into 'soft' academic emphasis of psychology, politics, and other 'worthless' sciences.
Hand in hand with the Engineer, and the Scientist, the Mathematician builds the world.
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