Sunlight filters in through the open blinds. Large whiteboards span the walls. There is the faint, thought-provoking redolence of stale coffee lingering in the air. The names of many previous students hang proudly to the right, encased by shiny, blue lamination. Their achievements in mathematics are forever preserved on ‘the Wall.’ The scene is not complete without the bespectacled gentleman wearing a striped polo who lounges comfortably in an office chair at the desk in the corner. For nine seniors, this room is as familiar as the faces around them.
This year, a BC Calculus course, taught by Bill Turner, is being offered at HHS for the first time. Turner has been a teacher at HHS for 28 years now.
“It just happens. Over the last three or four years we’ve always had people who wanted to take the BC test, and I worked with them individually,” Turner said about the impetus for the course. “It flowed with the way math was structured in the middle school; it only made sense that there were students who were going to reach this point.”
Students usually begin class by coming right in and solving problems which Turner writes up on the board. A recent example would be a type of ‘chain’ problem, where the initial information involves figuring the work to lift a bucket of water. It becomes more difficult as details are added.
“It’s a progression of looking at a basic problem and adding parameters to make it complex,” Turner said.
“Class is going really well. I think they’re all working hard. They’ve learned to work independently, and are interested in actually learning Math,” Turner said about students.
“I love Calculus,” senior Margaret King said. She aspires to go to Virginia Tech and become an engineer. “I want to build things, like engines, and trains.”
“It’s not as much work as Calc I, and it’s more enjoyable work,” King said. In her opinion, the best thing about Turner is ‘the way he takes care of his class.’
“I plan to go to college and major in Chemistry with a minor in both Math and Musical Theater,” senior Kaelyn Warne said. Warne ‘absolutely’ believes BC Calc has aided her in achieving the required knowledge.
“My favorite thing about Turner? He’s a true character,” senior Christina Sellers said, “That and the fact that everything he says…is perfect.”
Current students enrolled in the BC Calc course are seniors Margaret King, Morgan Wise, Mary Louise McMahan, Christina Sellers, Kaelyn Warne, Gina Muan, Amin Kraimeche, Jordan Leaman, Jonathan Ross and Premal Patel.
‘Turner-isms’
“People ask: ‘how am I gonna use this in the real world.’ On your test! This classroom IS the real world. If not, I’ve been living in the imaginary world my whole life…always in a classroom.”
“Just say your grade out loud. If you’re not comfortable saying your grade, don’t get that grade again.”
“I can smell coffee from a mile away.”
Student: “Can we see your tattoo now?”
Turner: “Come up here and pay me. I ain’t cheap!”
Turner: “What’s a max?”
Student: “As high as it gets?”
Turner: “No. When there’s a hippie on the side of the road, in California, that’s as high as it gets.”
“Whatever blows your dress up.”
“It’s like being stuck upstream without a paddle. You’re SOL.”
“Do you know what the Chain Rule is? You always tie your goat up with a chain so it doesn’t chew through the rope.”
