Plainedge High School Missed Connections

Abe Tilkin was my favorite teacher at Plainedge HS, because he had the guts to encourage us to openly explore moral values, and he was so passionate and animated about it. He vigorously encouraged us, as teenagers, to think about some of the truly big questions in life, and he used literature as his springboard for that process. I do hope and pray that he and his wife remain happy, healthy and well. We desperately need tens of thousands more like minded teachers to teach our children. I think that he could write a riveting book about how to be a great teacher - even though teaching in a public school that gets federal funding. Hopefully, his inquisitive moral probing of high school students would still stand the test of morally devolving, and other constraining education/(indoctrination) teaching and textbook reading requirements. I wonder if he feels that the education system cramped his style, or supported his educational goals for his students, back in the 60"s and 70's.  

I felt so honored to have been one of his lucky students, even though I was only a B student. It was a great learning experience. I still fondly remember eating a dinner with him, and his wife, at their home.

I also do hope that he was able to quit smoking cigarettes, a long time ago...

Daniel Passer, class of 73

dannypasser@yahoo.com