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Thursday, August 12, 2010

I feel cheated...

For those of you following along with yesterday's drama this should bring a sense of closure.  Mind you this is not a GREAT and abiding sense of closure...  more of a watered down sense of closure maybe?  Just be glad you haven't waited 22 years for it... 

I went a little Psycho yesterday - might have mentioned that in comments - and actually got out the old yearbook so that I could find Mr. E...  he happens to be on facebook.  This is good because I'm not sure my detective skills work much past the facebook level.

I sent him a message with the link to yesterday's post (and seriously - if you're reading THIS, but didn't read THAT - stop right now... go read it... I'll wait...

okay, now that we're all up to speed.  I just HAD to know - and judging from yesterday's curious comments I was not alone. 

The response?

It is good to hear from you. Yes, I was that chemistry teacher 22 years ago and I remember that day well. In addition to that day being your first day at a new school, it was also my very first day as a high school science teacher. The demonstration had a couple of purposes. First, it was to get students like you excited about learning about chemistry. It was also to model how to take good observations and ask good questions. Now for the answer…
The unknown liquid was water! When we tested to see if the unknown liquid was flammable, I had a small amount of Calcium Carbide next to the lit candle. When water comes in contact with the Calcium Carbide, acetylene gas is produced. With acetylene being very flammable, the result is an impressive ball of fire.

It is always nice to hear from former students. It is hard to believe how quickly 22 years pass. I continued to teach chemistry and physics and now I work as the district science coordinator. Instead of teaching kids, I work with teachers and administrators.

Thanks for tracking me down. I enjoyed reading your description of that day on your blog.
Take care,  (Mr E)

Who, besides me, feels just a little gipped?  Water???  Okay, okay... I'm okay with the answer... I just maybe feel a little foolish for not having asked the right questions 22 years ago :)  Apparently the right question was "Is there anything ELSE present to cause this reaction?" or "Man, are you trying to pull something over on us poor impressionable innocent children?"  (hmmm, that might not have applied to many of us in the class...)

It's all good though...   at least none of us will be losing sleep over it tonight.  (now if I could just stop having that geometry dream where Mr. B wants me to explain the pythagorean theorem I'd be good) 

20 comments:

Kristina P. said...

That's funny. But cool!

Barbaloot said...

Glad your curiousity was put to rest:)

I'm sure Mr. E liked being tracked down and reminded of a first teaching experience. It's got to be gratifying, right?

Lisa said...

Son of a ..... well, that's just NOTHING like what I was hoping for. Kind of a let down. Now if he'd said Sharkleberry finn~THAT I could have believed.

Jenny P. said...

So glad you tracked him down. I will absolutely sleep better tonight now that the mystery is solved.

roy/elisabeth dean said...

hahaha....I didn't read yesterdays post until today (at the exact point where you told me to btw). All sorts of things were going thru my mind and I was REALLY hoping it wasn't bacon grease like 1 commenter speculated! What an awesome experiment! Held your attention for 22 years!!!
Have a beautiful week~
♥,Lilly

Cheeseboy said...

Well, water is a liquid and I still think it's pretty darned funny.

CB said...

I think that is GREAT! Seriously - he really pulled a fast one on you guys and it was so memorable.
I am sure reading your post made his day as a teacher. Also, so neat that he got in touch with you and so fast. Modern technology - you gotta love it!

Saimi said...

I'm feeling thirsty...got water?

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Whew, what a relief!
I really was worried about it.

You never cease to amaze me. You have such an ability to lose things and then find them again!!!

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Whew, what a relief!
I really was worried about it.

You never cease to amaze me. You have such an ability to lose things and then find them again!!!

Gina said...

That is so cool!

Less the experiment, and more that the teacher was so cool and remembers what you were talking about and everything. But all in all, pretty cool story!

k said...

I’ve been keeping up to date with your site, but just don’t always have time to comment (sorry). Just thought I’d say hello again so you know I’m here!

Kate said...

I’ve been keeping up to date with your site, but just don’t always have time to comment (sorry). Just thought I’d say hello again so you know I’m here!

Nutty Hamster Chick said...

Well isn't that just something. nice to know.

S said...

I feel cheated too and I didn't even attend your high school! But bravo to you to finally finding out the answer.

See Mom Smile said...

Ha! I love that facebook can bring closure!!! Or watered down closure....I have found a couple of my fave teachers on FB and they have pretended to remember me!

Megz said...

Wonder how boring Nancy Drew books would have been if she'd done all her sleuthing via FB?
Sounds like a great teacher. I'm all for trickery.

Shelle-BlokThoughts said...

I kid you not... I thought water when i read the post! I'm not even joking!

I should have been a Chemistry Teacher.

LC said...

Your private detective/FB skills paid off.
Wish my H.S. Chemistry teacher had had some tricks like that up his sleeve.

Charlotte said...

That is the best story. I bet your FB message totally made his day, too. It is always nice to be remembered.