A Nobel Gift

Often when teachers get together, at summer conferences, workshops, or even just in the break room, talk revolves around teaching. What do you hear in this off-the-cuff "teacher talk"? It might be a quick description of something funny that happened in the classroom. It might be a story about something that inspired you. It might be a more serious anecdote that makes one ponder.

At an American Chemical Society meeting, I was chatting with George Sellers, a high school chemistry teacher who was then teaching in Florida. In the course of our conversation, he shared an anecdote about the Nobel Laureate Sir Harold Kroto. It really struck a chord with me. I wondered how stories like this, and other stories you share with your fellow teachers every day, could reach a wider audience. Hearing about the experiences of other teachers can help us realize our place in a wider community of educators. Stories can help us to recharge. They can make us laugh. They can inspire us.

As a result, I'd like to offer the forum of this "Teacher Talk" feature. It's particularly for stories from high school teachers, and will appear occasionally, as accepted submissions arise. I thank George for sharing his story, and encourage you to listen to your own teacher talk for a story you might share with us. Send your submission to the Editorial Office, indicating it is for the Teacher Talk feature.

In this article, George Sellers recalls a Saturday symposium for local high school chemistry teachers at Florida Southern College held in the summer of 2005.