Past Imperfect, Present Progressive - Softcover

Kerry Michael Wood

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1877809276 ISBN 13: 9781877809279

Publisher: Park Place Publications, 2006

Synopsis

Past Imperfect, Present Progressive is a gallimaufry of reminiscences by a vocal member oof the Silent Generation. Kerry Wood traces his childhood during the late Depression and World War II to adulthood and seniority in stories and poems born of experiences as a four-year-old consigned to a military boarding school, an awkward adolescent, an undergraduate at Yale, and a career high-school teacher. Enjoy moments of melancholy punctuating a lifetime of exuberant playfulness, in such unlikely areas as Shakespearean tragedy, English grammar, poetry analysis, Scrabble, spelling bees, and service in the lowest ranks of the U.S. Army.

About this title

From the Author:

I am confident that my memoir will be entertaining and interesting not only to my extended family, former schoolmates, students, and colleagues but also to word buffs, products of Catholic education, stroke survivors, ironists, fellow poetasters, and present, past, and future teachers of English/Language Arts. It is the product of a six-year labor of love--reflections of family, friends, teachers, and students whose acquaintance I have been fortunate (or unfortunate) to make. Frank McCourt would enjoy it because I am a "teacher man" of Irish extraction, if not birth. Doris Kearns Goodwin would spot her influences. Light verse persons Willard R. Espy and Richard Armour, both dead now, have sent me congratulatory letters for chapters they read during their lifetimes.

From the Back Cover:

The hats Kerry Wood has worn and wears are multifarious and variegated: Catholic grade school and high-school student, Yale graduate, Russian translator, secondary teacher of English in Turkey and California, world traveler, sports aficionado, editor of literature anthologies, amateur poet and essayist, stroke survivor, devoted husband and father. In a style informal in tone but rooted in the specifics of names, dates, and places, Mr. Wood, a born raconteur and polished memoirist, shares a life deeply rich in experience if not always in monetary rewards. Those curious about why a highly intelligent Ivy-League graduate would devote his career to teaching adolescents need only read former students' tributes to Mr. Wood to realize that the author's choice of vocation has been amply justified. Edmund J. Farrell, Professor Emeritus of English Education The University of Texas at Austin Recipient from the National Council of Teachers of English of the James R. Squire Award for "Extraordinary Contributions to the Teaching and Learning of the English Language Arts." ÒWhen I think back on the teachers who helped form me as a communicator, Kerry Wood comes to the top of the list. His respect for proper use of the language and his clever turns of a phrase never ceased to entertain me. His memoirs are filled with sweet stories well told. The examples of his creative writing and occasional doggerel verse recall the educational light touch of Lynne TrussÕ ÒEats Shoots and LeavesÓ. What impressed me most about ÒPast Imperfect, Present ProgressiveÓ was Mr. WoodÕs self effacing style and his commitment to telling the unvarnished truth. As his student, I wished I could get to know him better. Thanks to his book, I now feel that I have.Ó

John Naber Olympic Swimming Champion, Network Television Announcer, Motivational Speaker, Sales Trainer, Author Reading Kerry's account of his life is a reminder to all of us that we all share many common experiences. What is important as seen through the eyes of a boy coming of age, a young man, a soldier, a traveler, and an educator reveal much about the human psyche. Imagine starting a teaching career in the 60s! With European and African trips , Kerry morphed into a global citizen, who adheres to the Socratic words uttered by the philosopher at the age of 75, "I am still learning." --Ric Masten Poet, folk singer, artist, speaker, author of Let It Be a Dance

About this edition

• Publisher: Park Place Publications
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1877809276
• ISBN 13: 9781877809279
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 350