Mr Anderson had to put up with me and John Mills one year. I think it was the only English class I took. I managed to take speech, debate, forensic speaking, journalism, and anything except English. Of course I learned to my regret I really did need the English. He is missed.
Once when I was ill and at home for a few days, Mr. Anderson showed up at my front door with homework and the assignments for the week. As far as I know, my parents did not request it. I appreciated that he made the effort to keep me from falling behind in class, and it really showed me that he cared about us as students. I think he made an impression on most of us who were privileged to have him as our English teacher.
I never had a class from Mr. Anderson, but I do clearly remember him, and his stern yet humorous demeanor. I had Mr. Wiggington and Mr. Honsberger for English and thought they were both wonderful. In reading these memorial tributes to Mr. Anderson, I read about the 5 paragraph essay which I don't remember learning in my classes. I have done quite a bit of writing since high school, so I googled "5 paragraph essay" and up it came with 384.000 hits. Duh! Where was I when they handed out the format?
The 5 paragraph essay format actually is the same thing as the well-known formula for movie screenplays known as the "Three Act Screenplay," that has been used over and over with great success at the box office. That format is basically: (1) Start with a BANG! (2) Act One introduces the characters, the problems, and the goals and it ends with a plot twist (transitional hook). (3) Act Two follows the plot twist (reverse hook) as the characters go through mental or personality arcs where they change from where they were at the beginning of the story, and ends with a plot twist (transitional hook). (4) Act Three continues to build the character's arcs to where "boy gets girl," "cop gets crook," "sinner finds redemption," "bigot loses prejudice," builds to the final climax, and it ends with a BOOM! (5) Then usually a final resolution scene where the characters laugh about it all, lovers embrace, the recovered stolen money is returned to the orphanage, or Humphrey Bogart and Claude Raines walk off into the fog.
I just saw the film Selma which follows that format pretty well. The BANG! at the beginning of that film is so startling in its intensity and the way it just immediately sucks you into the problems and the goals of the characters and the times. Now, what we are seeing here is the influence of Mr. Anderson's fine teaching, and how what he taught is still alive through his students. So many of you learned about 5 paragraph essays and other things from him, and in writing about it in your memorial tributes to Mr. Anderson, you are spreading his knowledge to others, like me who must have been in the cafeteria when they handed out the format.
In the future, when I am trying to write something, I now know about the 5 paragraph structure, thanks to you. That same spirit that lead Mr. Anderson to bring that homework assignment to the front door of a sick student, passes on again. That is the way education should be, always the paying forward of knowledge. From Mr. Honsberger I learned about the parts of speech and the structure of grammar. From Mr. Wiggington I learned about how the writings of English literature are both a light from and a reflection of the political times in which they were written.
The bottom line is: We had some great teachers at Meadowdale High School. Maybe some of the teachers were not as good as others. However, the great ones like Mr. Anderson, and Mr. Honsberger, and Mr. Wiggington, and Mr. King, and Mr. Hilton, and Mr. Jenkins, and Mr. Kovacevich and many others had a lot to do with who we are today. Their thoughtful instructions helped us survive in the real worlds we came into after we left Meadowdale High School. I hope this short 5 paragraph essay does honor to their gifts to us. Mr. Anderson, thank you!
I liked Kevin's comments as well, but I would like to defend Mr. Wiggington. I never had Mr. Anderson but I had Ralph Wiggington for humanities and English, I think. Definitely one of the best, if not these best, teacher I had in high school. He DRUMMED that 5 paragraph essay in to our brains and it has been ever so useful ever since. Admittedly, Kevin had him a different year but I can't imagine he could have changed that much! You must have suppressed the memory, Kevin! lol. I also remember Mr. Wiggington getting in trouble for ripping the PA speaker off the wall after too many interruptions. I should write something for him. We were very lucky to have had these teachers!
I, too, had Mr. Anderson for junior year English, and have pleasant memories of his class. I certainly remember those five paragraph essays, especially because on two or three occasions he read parts of them aloud to the class to demonstrate something I had done well, which made me feel pretty good. I had a habit (still do) of being a bit sarcastic in my writings, and it seemed as if this appealed to him. He signed my yearbook that year with an inked thumbprint, as was his wont, I guess. I think five paragraph essays were the order of the day in high school, as I first started writing them my sophomore year at Mountlake Terrace with Catherine Heffron, and continued all through Meadowdale until I graduated. Mr. Anderson was one of the few bright spots in my high school years, along with Mr. Robinson, Mr. Hilton, and Mr. Nievaard. R.I.P Mr. Anderson
Jan, you confirmed my suspicions that Mr. Anderson liked sarcasm in our essays. I still remember squirming in my seat when he read aloud one of my opening paragraphs. It was a generalized satire, but based on someone in our graduating class, who also happened to be in that English class. When I wrote it I never imagined Mr. A would read it to the class. I was sure everyone would figure out who the person was. Being a very shy person, it was mortifying and, yet, I was proud he thought the writing was good. Mixed feelings, to be sure.
You don't have to defend Mr. Wiggington. He was one of the best of the best. I probably did suppress his teachings of the 5 paragraph essay. It is amazing how many useful things I have forgotten, but I have learned my lesson late, and will never ever write another essay with more or less than 5 paragraphs. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could have one 50-year reunion where we all go back to MHS and there are all the teachers, still in their class rooms and we could go in and thank Mr. Anderson and the other great teachers we had. Hopefully a few of them are still monitoring this website and will see our thanks. I just hope they don't monitor this website and then send us to study hall for making wise cracks.
Mr. Anderson was truly one of those teachers that inspired you. We were all so lucky to have been instructed by him. My fellow classmates here have expressed our appreciation better than I ever could.
Beth Bone (Niemi)
Dick Anderson was why I taught high school English for 28 years. What more can I say?
Skip (George A) Hickey
Mr Anderson had to put up with me and John Mills one year. I think it was the only English class I took. I managed to take speech, debate, forensic speaking, journalism, and anything except English. Of course I learned to my regret I really did need the English. He is missed.
Linda Swartz (Bakkar)
Once when I was ill and at home for a few days, Mr. Anderson showed up at my front door with homework and the assignments for the week. As far as I know, my parents did not request it. I appreciated that he made the effort to keep me from falling behind in class, and it really showed me that he cared about us as students. I think he made an impression on most of us who were privileged to have him as our English teacher.
Kevin Cloud Brechner (66)
I never had a class from Mr. Anderson, but I do clearly remember him, and his stern yet humorous demeanor. I had Mr. Wiggington and Mr. Honsberger for English and thought they were both wonderful. In reading these memorial tributes to Mr. Anderson, I read about the 5 paragraph essay which I don't remember learning in my classes. I have done quite a bit of writing since high school, so I googled "5 paragraph essay" and up it came with 384.000 hits. Duh! Where was I when they handed out the format?
The 5 paragraph essay format actually is the same thing as the well-known formula for movie screenplays known as the "Three Act Screenplay," that has been used over and over with great success at the box office. That format is basically: (1) Start with a BANG! (2) Act One introduces the characters, the problems, and the goals and it ends with a plot twist (transitional hook). (3) Act Two follows the plot twist (reverse hook) as the characters go through mental or personality arcs where they change from where they were at the beginning of the story, and ends with a plot twist (transitional hook). (4) Act Three continues to build the character's arcs to where "boy gets girl," "cop gets crook," "sinner finds redemption," "bigot loses prejudice," builds to the final climax, and it ends with a BOOM! (5) Then usually a final resolution scene where the characters laugh about it all, lovers embrace, the recovered stolen money is returned to the orphanage, or Humphrey Bogart and Claude Raines walk off into the fog.
I just saw the film Selma which follows that format pretty well. The BANG! at the beginning of that film is so startling in its intensity and the way it just immediately sucks you into the problems and the goals of the characters and the times. Now, what we are seeing here is the influence of Mr. Anderson's fine teaching, and how what he taught is still alive through his students. So many of you learned about 5 paragraph essays and other things from him, and in writing about it in your memorial tributes to Mr. Anderson, you are spreading his knowledge to others, like me who must have been in the cafeteria when they handed out the format.
In the future, when I am trying to write something, I now know about the 5 paragraph structure, thanks to you. That same spirit that lead Mr. Anderson to bring that homework assignment to the front door of a sick student, passes on again. That is the way education should be, always the paying forward of knowledge. From Mr. Honsberger I learned about the parts of speech and the structure of grammar. From Mr. Wiggington I learned about how the writings of English literature are both a light from and a reflection of the political times in which they were written.
The bottom line is: We had some great teachers at Meadowdale High School. Maybe some of the teachers were not as good as others. However, the great ones like Mr. Anderson, and Mr. Honsberger, and Mr. Wiggington, and Mr. King, and Mr. Hilton, and Mr. Jenkins, and Mr. Kovacevich and many others had a lot to do with who we are today. Their thoughtful instructions helped us survive in the real worlds we came into after we left Meadowdale High School. I hope this short 5 paragraph essay does honor to their gifts to us. Mr. Anderson, thank you!
Sue Knouse (Sato '66)
Kevin Brechner...you make me teary eyed. What great "story" you told. Thank you!
Peri Axness (Di Crescentis)
I liked Kevin's comments as well, but I would like to defend Mr. Wiggington. I never had Mr. Anderson but I had Ralph Wiggington for humanities and English, I think. Definitely one of the best, if not these best, teacher I had in high school. He DRUMMED that 5 paragraph essay in to our brains and it has been ever so useful ever since. Admittedly, Kevin had him a different year but I can't imagine he could have changed that much! You must have suppressed the memory, Kevin! lol. I also remember Mr. Wiggington getting in trouble for ripping the PA speaker off the wall after too many interruptions. I should write something for him. We were very lucky to have had these teachers!
Jan Canfield (Nofziger)
I, too, had Mr. Anderson for junior year English, and have pleasant memories of his class. I certainly remember those five paragraph essays, especially because on two or three occasions he read parts of them aloud to the class to demonstrate something I had done well, which made me feel pretty good. I had a habit (still do) of being a bit sarcastic in my writings, and it seemed as if this appealed to him. He signed my yearbook that year with an inked thumbprint, as was his wont, I guess. I think five paragraph essays were the order of the day in high school, as I first started writing them my sophomore year at Mountlake Terrace with Catherine Heffron, and continued all through Meadowdale until I graduated. Mr. Anderson was one of the few bright spots in my high school years, along with Mr. Robinson, Mr. Hilton, and Mr. Nievaard. R.I.P Mr. Anderson
Carol Buschman (Szender)
Jan, you confirmed my suspicions that Mr. Anderson liked sarcasm in our essays. I still remember squirming in my seat when he read aloud one of my opening paragraphs. It was a generalized satire, but based on someone in our graduating class, who also happened to be in that English class. When I wrote it I never imagined Mr. A would read it to the class. I was sure everyone would figure out who the person was. Being a very shy person, it was mortifying and, yet, I was proud he thought the writing was good. Mixed feelings, to be sure.
Kevin Cloud Brechner (66)
@Peri,
You don't have to defend Mr. Wiggington. He was one of the best of the best. I probably did suppress his teachings of the 5 paragraph essay. It is amazing how many useful things I have forgotten, but I have learned my lesson late, and will never ever write another essay with more or less than 5 paragraphs. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could have one 50-year reunion where we all go back to MHS and there are all the teachers, still in their class rooms and we could go in and thank Mr. Anderson and the other great teachers we had. Hopefully a few of them are still monitoring this website and will see our thanks. I just hope they don't monitor this website and then send us to study hall for making wise cracks.
John Mills
Mr. Anderson was truly one of those teachers that inspired you. We were all so lucky to have been instructed by him. My fellow classmates here have expressed our appreciation better than I ever could.