In 1974, after filling out fifty applications, going through four interviews, and winning one offer, I took what I could get —- a teaching job at what I considered a distant wild area: western New Jersey. My characteristic optimism was alive only when I reminded myself that I would be doing what I had wanted to do since I was fourteen —— teaching English.

    School started, but I felt more and more as if I were in a foreign country. Was this rural area really New Jersey? My students took a week off when hunting season began. I was told they were also frequently absent in late October to help their fathers make hay on the farms. I was a young woman from New York City, who thought that “Make hay while the sun shines” just meant to have a good time.

But, still, I was teaching English. I worked hard, taking time off only to eat and sleep. And then there was my sixth-grade class — seventeen boys and five girls who were only six years younger than me. I had a problem long before I knew it. I was struggling in my work as a young idealistic teacher. I wanted to make literature come alive and to promote a love of the written word. The students wanted to throw spitballs and whisper dirty words in the back of the room.

    In college I had been taught that a successful educator should ignore bad behavior. So I did, confident that, as the textbook had said, the bad behavior would disappear as I gave my students positive attention. It sounds reasonable, but the text evidently ignored the fact that humans, particularly teenagers, rarely seems reasonable. By the time my boss, who was also my taskmaster, known to be the strictest, most demanding, most quick to fire inexperienced teachers, came into the classroom to observe me, the students exhibited very little good behavior to praise.

    My boss sat in the back of the room. The boys in the class were making animal noises, hitting each other while the girls filed their nails or read magazines. I just pretended it all wasn't happening, and went on lecturing and tried to ask some inspiring questions. My boss, sitting in the back of the classroom, seemed to be growing bigger and bigger. After twenty minutes he left, silently. Visions of unemployment marched before my eyes.

    I felt mildly victorious that I got through the rest of class without crying, but at my next free period I had to face him. I wondered if he would let me finish out the day. I walked to his office, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

He was sitting in his chair, and he looked at me long and hard. I said nothing. All I could think of was that I was not an English teacher; I had been lying to myself, pretending that everything was fine.

    When he spoke, he said simply, without accusation, “You had nothing to say to them.”

     “You had nothing to say to them”. he repeated.” No wonder they are bored. Why not get to the meat of literature and stop talking about symbolism. Talk with them, not at them. And more important, why do you ignore their bad behavior”? We talked. He named my problems and offered solutions. We role-played. He was the bad student, and I was the forceful, yet, warm, teacher. 
       As the year progressed, we spent many hours discussing literature and ideas about human beings and their motivations. He helped me identify my weaknesses and strengths. In short, he made a teacher of me by teaching me the reality of Emerson's words: “The secret to education lies in respecting the pupil.”

    Fifteen years later I still drive that same winding road to the same school. Thanks to the help I received that difficult first year, the school is my home now.

    Pacific Science Center Guide

    Visit Pacific Science Center's Store

    Don't forget to stop by Pacific Science Center's Store while you are here to pick up a wonderful science activity or souvenir to remember your visit. The store is located(位于) upstairs in Building 3 right next to the Laser Dome.

    Hungry

    Our exhibits will feed your mind, but what about your body? Our café offers a complete menu of lunch and snack options, in addition to seasonal specials. The café is located upstairs in Building 1 and is open daily until one hour before Pacific Science Center closes.

    Rental Information

    Lockers are available to store any belongings during your visit. The lockers are located in Building 1 near the Information Desk and in Building 3. Pushchairs and wheelchairs are available to rent at the Information Desk and Denny Way entrance. ID required.

    Support Pacific Science Center

    Since 1962, Pacific Science Center has been inspiring a passion(热情) for discovery and lifelong learning in science, math and technology. Today, Pacific Science Center serves more than 1.3 million people a year and brings inquiry-based science education to classrooms and community events all over Washington State. It's an amazing accomplishment and one we cannot achieve without generous support from individuals, corporations, and other social organizations. Visit pacificsciencecenter.org to find various ways you can support Pacific Science Center.

    Each year Canada Chocolate Town, St. Stephen, New Brunswick, celebrates our community's rich and delicious heritage with our annual Chocolate Fest. Now in its 30^th year, this week-long, family-oriented festival is "choc-full" of activities, fun events, and all things chocolate-related. Our beloved mascot, the Great Chocolate Mousse, and his lovely wife Tiffany, invite you to join us this August for the sweetest festival of the year—Chocolate Fest!

    Ball Hockey Tournament

    8:30 am to 11:30 am

    Location: Garcelon Civic

    Center Game on! Dust off your hockey sticks, turn back the clock, enjoy the great game of Ball Hockey and be the first team to claim the "Chicken Bone Cup". We encourage sportsmanship and equal opportunity for all players. For details call Heather, 465-5616. Sponsored by SUBWAY Restaurants and Chocolate Fest. Cost: $ 100/team.

    Ca-r-ma Charlotte County Coffee Morning

    9: 30 am to 12 noon

    Location: St. Stephen Town Square

    Come out and join us for a Starbucks coffee, cup of tea or juice and scrumptious (美味的) home-baked goods, many featuring chocolate. Sponsored by Ca-r-ma Charlotte County and adoption programs-caring for homeless and feral cats.

    Dot's Delecto Birthday Party

    11 am to 2 pm

    Location: Boys and Girls Club of Charlotte County, 54 Disher Lane, Oak Bay, NB

    Who does St. Stephen love? Dot Larsen! Please join us for chocolate cake and chocolate milk and help celebrate Dot's birthday. Come and play in our indoor/outdoor playground, have your face painted and enjoy a barbecue to help raise funds for the Barracuda Swim Team. For details call BGCCC, 466-4300.

Lucy the Lady Bug's 1st Birthday Party

    12 noon to 3 pm

    Location: Kingsbrae Garden, St. Andrews, NB

    Come to celebrate with Lucy and her friends for a picnic on our front lawn-bring your own picnic, or grab lunch at our Garden Cafe. At 2 pm, join Lucy and her friends for an amazing race adventure through the big maze, obstacle course on the main lawn, find treasure in the fantasy garden and much, much more! Cost: $ 38/Family Day Pass, $ 16/Adult, $ 12/Students and Seniors, Free/Children 6 and younger.

    I used to be crazy about the hunting season. The excitement of waiting for a prey(猎物)and the pride of showing off the kill fascinated me. However, everything changed after that cold morning.

    Early on that day of the late fall, I set off alone for the woods, packing a gun, a bottle of hot coffee and three thick sandwiches. After finding the fresh deer's tracks in the snow, I settled down behind a little bush.

I sat there for about an hour. It was then that I saw him. A deer, a big beautiful deer! There was no cover nearer to him than 30 yards. Surely I couldn't miss! I waited for him to realize I was there. I waited for him to be shocked and run away. But he fooled me completely. He came towards me! He was curious, I suppose, or maybe he was stupid—how else can you explain it? Well, that deer walked right up to where I was sitting. Then he stopped and looked at me!

    What happened next is hard to believe, but it's true. And it all seemed quite natural. Just as when a friendly young deer comes near you, I reached up and scratched his head. And he liked to be scratched. In fact, he practically asked for more. Then, I fed him my sandwich! Yes, I know what a deer eats, but that deer ate my sandwich. Well, he finally went his way, down the hill and up the deer trail. Shoot him? Not me. You wouldn't have either, not after that. I just watched him go.

    When I was about half way back, I heard two shots, followed by a dull slam(撞击)a few seconds later. Those two shots usually mean a kill. I had forgotten there were other hunters that day.

    Those hunters would never know they could have scratched his head.

Known as the fastest Chinese man, Su Bingtian made history. Now, Su's feat was on a par with the 12 fastest human sprinters of all time and he is really a flying man of China, of Asia.

On August 1st of 2021, Su set a new record of 9. 83 seconds in the Tokyo Olympics Men's 100 m semifinals (半决赛). He was the first Chinese runner to enter the final in the event and brought an unforgettable moment for the world in the summer of that year.

For a long time, it was believed that Asian people couldn't get great achievements in such kinds of competitions. For decades, it has been impossible for Asian athletes to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m race. But as Su progressed steadily (稳定地) in international competitions, this idea came under fire. After May 30th, 2015, the day Su became the first Chinese man to break the 10-second barrier for the 100 m, running exactly 9.99, he has become a legend who kept breaking Chinese records or even Asian records since then.

He became well known and many people wanted to be as famous as him, but the way to success was never easy for Su. Once he was badly hurt in a training course. Su had to stop running. after the accident. He even planned to give up running in 2017. But the spirit to do something for our country brought Su back to the running team. He realized that finishing the semifinal in less than 10 seconds would win the chance to enter the final competition. It was difficult to get the goal.

Su trained much harder than before to improve the speed. To encourage himself, he set a personal goal-9. 89 seconds. He even made the number as his personal password (密码) for his phone and computer. Finally he succeeded! His spirit encourages many people to try to achieve their dreams.