Dedication


 * This page is dedicated to the original 'authentic' teacher, Mr. Hugh Thompson (Hugh).**


 * " Nature never did betray the heart that loved her"**


 * Hugh was many years ahead of his time in the teaching field. Although he would be the first to tell you that he was not a strong teacher and much preferred his, 'previous to teaching job' in the Ottawa Museum; to those of us who disliked school and did not fare so well in the traditional sense of education, we knew differently!**
 * Quiet and humble; year - in and year - out, he lead troupe after troupe of high school misfits through the difficult challenges of teenage angst, all the while, refusing to teach the traditional way and doing things in his own unique style. Yes, he was frowned upon and scowled at from those traditional masters who maintained their classrooms, pin-drop quiet, ruled with the iron fist, and taught their students four things: Teachers are unapproachable; never question the status quo; school is boring; and never, ever ask why you are doing what you are told to do...**
 * Mr. Thompson was the antithesis of those teachers. He was such a breath of fresh air, literally with all the outdoor work and in the sense of teaching. It was the first time in my life that I had begun to understand geography, the lay of the land, science terms that had previously evaded me, physics principles, natural science and English Literature, yes, English Lit! Poetry came alive in ways that books could never reach me. Experiencing the fresh smell of ozone** **during a light afternoon rain while orienteering through the deep woods in October helped me appreciate and embrace the works of many poets. The ethereal writing of all the authors that I had never cared to read prior to these experiences began to take life. The depiction of nature's elegance and charm could be experienced first hand and everything seemed to become so much clearer and alive to me. Mr. Thompson provided these experiences to those of us so blessed to have been part of his class.**
 * We studied map contours by going on many afternoon field trips to a mountainous pile of sawdust created by a local industry. What most people saw as an eye-sore, Hugh saw as an opportunity to teach with a touch of reality. We began to understand the distribution of weight and many other laws of physics through snowshoeing and cross country skiing. His students learned about the difference between tidal waters and fresh water systems through canoeing rivers and coastal paddling. We began to understand the natural flora and fauna of our local region and that of New Brunswick. He accomplished this through the teaching of compass orienteering and plant identification as part of the process of cross curricular subjects and interdisciplinary teaching.**
 * Many of us were so blessed to be in the company of such a gifted teacher. He kept things simple and plain. He lead by example and demonstrated what true humanity was all about. Often just showing his students that he cared was enough to gain their unwavering loyalty.**
 * Hugh wasn't the 'touchy- feely' type, and was generally a shy, private man. Yet somehow, he always managed to bring out the very best in each and every one of us. He was a father figure to all that he encountered and he provided us with the opportunity to experience the most wonderful and incredible adventures imaginable. We traveled to the historic St. Croix River countless times over the years. We paddled from the north east coast to the south east coast of New Brunswick, learning about the coastal water ways and marine life. We camped in deep woods with his traditional plastic covering placed under our canoes and over the top to protect from the elements-we were always dry. We paddled and encountered storms and camped in wild rain and wind, always safe and respectful of mother nature and her moods...He took us for a week long paddle through the Everglades of Florida, which continues to amaze me, even today. Nothing was deemed out of reach as long as we followed safety rules and stuck with his protocol. He took care of us.**
 * Mr. Thompson taught students from all walks of life. He taught people who were in and out of jail, kids with no parents, those living in foster homes,and children who had fathers that were rarely in their lives. He spent quality time with the kids who in the eyes of many others, garnered little value. He bridged the gap of racial tension within the three cultures of our area long before anyone else even came close to achieving success. He taught students from traditional families, the upper class and a few, that perhaps in the beginning, thought our experiences might be considered beneath them. But he always won them over with his attitude of, "everyone is welcome, just try your best, and treat every person in the group as equal."**
 * Although he had compassion for all people regardless of social status, he was not considered a 'good teacher' by leaders in the field. Ironically, everything he did, all of the new methods of connecting with his students, his commitment to community and his great mentor-ship; today, are the qualities that leaders in the field are attempting to guide teachers to gravitate towards as innovative teaching. Twenty-first century learning, teaching with real-life application in authentic situations where students actually see and understand that what they are learning does apply in everyday situations, and what they are learning, does have merit.**
 * Roy Pea of Stanford University, professor of education and the learning sciences stated, "...distill insights from diverse communities of reflective inquiry on what redesigns of learning environments are needed to foster these skills, and provide path finding tools for the exciting expeditions into the future of learning." Sure sounds like Mr. Thompson had the path well before his time!**
 * You may wonder how our small district could afford such extravagant equipment and all the cost of travel and so on... You see, it cost the district nothing. Mr. Thompson bought everything with his own money. He bought snowshoes, skis, canoes, canoe trailer, paddles, personal flotation devices, etc. and when he retired, gave all of his gear to the schools and his canoe gear to a local youth summer program.**
 * He paid out of his own pocket to become a certified canoeing instructor and never charged a cent to teach us our levels in canoeing. He was instrumental in leading twenty community projects over a period of twenty years. He hired over fifty students for summer work to provide them with money to go to University. He refused to take payment for his work and insisted that the money that he would have earned be put back into the program.**
 * Mr. Hugh Thompson was very instrumental in influencing a large number of young people in their career choices over the years. I am one of his proteges. I, as one of the many misfits he molded over the years, have gone on to follow my mentor's footsteps. I have been teaching Physical Education and English for thirty years and am now a school principal. I forward many of the same life skills that he taught me on to my own students. I follow his philosophy as best as I can:Simply stated:Students first.**
 * The most poignant things I remember from Hugh are these: He taught from the heart. He believed that every student had value. He believed that there are redeeming qualities in everyone, we just have to dig a little deeper for some people. He allowed us to make our own mistakes and learn from them. He always gave a second chance. He always found it in his heart to forgive those self-centered, egotistical teens that loved him so much.**
 * He is now eighty-five years old, and I try and get him out in the canoe at least once every summer. He doesn't remember so well anymore, and he has lost many of our old adventures to time. Yet, when his blade cuts the water on that first stroke, nothing else matters... his instincts kick in and we are back home again for one more paddle...**

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 * Hugh and his lovely wife Solange.**

media type="custom" key="7635153"**Hugh in his Prime at 'Little Falls' on the St. Croix River.** media type="custom" key="8251398"


 * Hugh and I..**.


 * //There is so much to say about this man.He was there for me when my own father was not in my life very much. He taught me self-reliance and helped me find the positives of who I was and who I would become. He was, and is, a meek and unassuming gentleman; powerful in character and with a sense of integrity above any man I've ever known.//**
 * //He loves life and nature to his very soul and oh what a beautiful soul he is...//**
 * //To think that one man could have such an impact on a community and its children is quite remarkable. He was such a role model for all of us, especially when he was in the element that is so much part of who he is. He was the master of the outdoors and champion of those whom others devalued. He excelled among people who chose to allow him to be himself; that which he so graciously bestowed upon his students.//**
 * Kevin**


 * "There is pleasure in the pathless woods,**
 * There is a rapture on the lonely shore,**
 * There is society, where none intrudes,**
 * By the deep Sea, and music in its roar.**
 * I love not Man the less, but Nature more."**


 * The following document contains several comments sent to me in response to this dedication page to Hugh. I have selected several comments that I feel capture the 'real' Hugh. I could not include full responses so (hopefully with your blessings) I edited down as best that I could.**

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 * This project was recgonized by School District 16 for Creative Use of Technology in Education. Thanks for your guidance, Hugh! **