In a school the size of Arlington High, it is hard to get to know every student, teacher, and administrator in the building. The challenge is especially heightened for teachers who must not only memorize the names of their hundreds of students, but their fellow coworkers as well. This caught tenth grade English and Etymology teacher, Doctor Marvin’s, attention. “I know I work with some very intelligent people… I wouldn’t even recognize if I walked into Kroger.” This realization led to the idea of a faculty book club here at Arlington. “I sent out an interest survey last spring and I was blown away that 30% of our faculty responded and said they would like to see one of those started here.” Those weren’t just English teachers either. Teachers of every department gather to participate in this faculty sponsored club. “I really love reading, and it helps to keep me on track,” says AP teacher Joel Wilhite.
“I was so excited, so we read our first book over the summer and we meet monthly,” explained Dr Marvin. The teachers read Little Fires Everywhere and had their first meeting in July, where they all came to the conclusion that the best-seller was especially on the strange side. During the meeting the teachers received their official membership badges, which are proudly displayed just outside several members’ classrooms. “It’s a neat thing to walk down the hall and see somebody and just say, ‘Hey what did you think of how that chapter ended?’.” The award winning title Bless me Ultima is on the schedule for next month’s meeting.
“My favorite part of this book club is the intellectual challenge of hearing others’ ideas, because when you read a book you think your’s is the only way to view it.” Teachers who want to join, it’s not too late. New books are assigned every month and the meetings are available to anyone who’s read them. Email Dr. Marvin at [email protected] for more details.