Praising the inspiration of Mr. B
To the editor,
I had a teacher that followed me most of my school years, his name was Burt Baldwin. He reminded me of a mad scientist when I was small.

I went to school in Kirtland, N.M., and the highlight of my days were spending time with Mr. B out on the nature trail and learning about science.

My dad got a new job and we had to move. We relocated to Ignacio, what an experience. I was terrified to start a new school, my parents were always such solid people, nothing ever changed. I was starting the 4th grade and a whole new school. Around the second week of school, the teacher announced that the science guy was going to be coming in, and we were going to do some work with microscopes, oooh aaah. About 10 minutes later, in hops Mr. B hollering and jazzed up beyond belief. He was bouncing around the classroom shouting random scientific facts. I couldn’t believe my eyes, and even better, he remembered me.

Mr. B moved with us! I no longer felt alone and a little less stressed at the tender age of 9. I couldn’t wait to tell my parents. Mr. B followed us through grade school, and he stayed at the grade school when I moved on to junior high. When I got to high school, I found myself having a hard time getting interested in the subject matter. I did alright and found my way just fine, but then along came Mr. B. I couldn’t believe it! I had an opportunity to take more classes with Mr. B, and that’s just what I did.

I took all of my English classes with him, and he always threw in some helpful hints when it came around to history time. He shared a classroom with my other favorite teacher, Mr. deKay. When it came time for Junior English, Mr. B discussed some things with my parents and sent some of my writing off to be published and I got a book back, with my writing in it. I was moved to tears. I never thought that anyone would believe in what I was trying to do.

It lead to a lot of writing being submitted in hopes of publication. Just before I graduated, he called me over to his desk where he was thinking hard and really studying what was on his desk. I came over and noticed right away that it was pictures of my class on the nature trail in Kirtland all those many years ago, and with them there were pictures of us playing with science at the intermediate school.

And then there was my senior picture, along with many of my friends’ pictures, and I was so touched. It wasn’t until I had some time for personal reflection later in life that I realized how much this man helped me and inspired me. The worst thing anyone can say is “No.”

He has a passion for learning and writing like none that I have ever known. I ran into him in the hallway where I work a few months ago, he didn’t remember me as easily as he had the last time but later in conversation, he asked me if I was still writing, and I was almost ashamed to tell him that I hadn’t had time. I decided that I’m going to make time and I’m going to submit it where he told me to ... the Durango Telegraph.