A Wonderful, Gentle, Teacher

About the Book

"A Wonderful, Gentle Teacher" gives the reader a glimpse of rural life on a family farm in Northeastern Wisconsin in the early 1920's and 1930's. See life in rural Northeastern Wisconsin through the eyes of a young child, adolescent, young man, coach, experienced teacher, father and retired educator's eyes. Read about the physical setup, classroom environment, instructional techniques and responsibilities of the old "grade one through eight", one-room schools of the 1930's and 1940's. Learn what was required and expected of an upper-midwest prospective teacher as he prepared for and pursued a career as an educator in mid-20th century America.

About the Author

Melvin Zahn (1918-2007) was a 40 year veteran of rural school and small-town Wisconsin education from 1937-1981, except for the time during WWII. Melvin completed a high school affiliated teacher training program in 1937 and accepted the first of three consecutive teaching positions spanning 14 years in one room schools teaching grades one through eight. In 1950, he started work toward a Bachelor's Degree in Education. He earned this degree in 1958, attending eight consecutive years of summer school and weekend courses while teaching full-time. He completed a Masters Degree in Educational Administration in 1973, and started his Doctorate of Education. He was a K-12/elementary principal for the last eighteen years of his career. He married in 1946, and was the father of three. Melvin was a devoted educator who unselfishly gave his time and talents to students, their parents and the community. He constantly encouraged, supported and guided his students and staffs, and he had good relationships with parent communities, including families of Native Americans from Menominee Nation. Melvin was a talented artist who was encouraged to show his works of art, but never did. During his retirement he traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad, visiting countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Mexico. He maintained his interest in education throughout retirement, observing instructional methods and styles in international schools. He also served his church and local community on various committees as president of the local AAL, board member for the Homme Home for the elderly, secretary of the Lions Club, president of the local Retired Teachers Association, election board for his home town, board member and vice-president of the local AARP chapter and a member of his local church council. Melvin finished his autobiography in January of 2007, just two months before he passed away.