MR. BURNS

I believe Mr. Burns was primarily a business teacher at Washington. However, I had him for a math class during my senior year. It was business math.

In order to graduate, each student had to have two credits of math. That meant four semesters. I took algebra my freshman year. I flunked the second semester. I would have flunked the first semester too, had it not been for Shawn Rappley. As a sophomore, I was put into pre-algrebra II. I passed the whole year. So I had 1.5 credits. I didn't have any math my junior year. So going into my senior year, Mr. Boehlke (the guidance counselor) told me I had to have a math class. As always, I wanted the easy way out. So he put me into business math. I asked him what kind of students were in that class. He told me it was filled with people who have trouble with math, and people like me, who were a half credit short or something, and needed it to graduate. Translation - a class filled with derelicts. Oh well. Sign me up!

The class was just what I had anticipated. It was filled with the best rejects WHS had to offer. Although Sheila Zach was in there too. I didn't quite get that. In addition to Sheila, Joy Holtz and myself, I think the rest of the class was full of juniors - most of whom probably didn't graduate.

See my entries on Joy and Sheila for additional stories regarding that class.

Mr. Burns was sort of a round man. He wasn't overly heavy. He just kind of had an odd shape. He tended to wear khaki pants and tennis shoes everyday. He also had a beard. And if memory serves, he may have had a gap in his teeth.

I got along pretty good with Mr. Burns. He was a decent guy. Of course it should be pointed out that I was far and away his star pupil. The lesson plan was really dumbed down, so to speak. His class was incredibly easy. I breezed through it with very little effort - something I was a master of. I think I may have gotten A's across the board.

Joy and I actually worked together quite a bit during the 4th quarter. Again, see my entry on Joy for the details. Burns accused her of cheating off of me for her good grade. It wasn't true though. Joy and I policed each other.

I believe Mr. Burns had a daughter named Maria. She graduated from our school in 1994.

Mr. Burns' entry has a sad ending. Sometime around 1995 or 1996, shortly after the new school year started, Mr. Burns had a heart attack and died. I believe it happened one evening at home. Regretfully, I can't recall his first name.