December 19 was supposed to be Brian Agar’s final day on the job after 37 years of teaching chemistry at Oxford High School. Mother nature had other plans as 12 inches of snow fell on Oxford and cancelled school.
Was Agar, 58, of Lapeer, disappointed to not be teaching about chemical compounds, the periodic table or inert gases on his final day in the classroom?
Not really.
In fact, he saw it as a nice sendoff. The day before, he and other staff members gathered in the school library for cake and punch.
‘Yesterday gave me full closure,? Agar said. ‘I saw the weather as a gift.?
Agar has many fond memories of teaching at OHS and has enjoyed his time here.
A 1968 Clarkston High School graduate, he earned a chemistry degree from Oakland University in 1971 and picked up two master’s degrees ? a general science degree in 1979 from Michigan State University and a classroom teaching degree from Detroit’s Marygrove College in 1999.
When Agar began his educational career teaching chemistry at OHS in January 1972, he earned $4,075 per semester.
‘I’ve enjoyed Oxford High School,? he said. ‘It’s a very pleasant community.?
Agar estimated in the past 10-15 years he’s had a dozen students each year whose mothers or fathers were once his students.
‘I’ve never taught any grandkids or had anyone who would admit it,? he quipped.
Over the years, Agar’s seen chemistry education change significantly. It used to be a college prep course, a class students would usually take only if they were going into medicine, engineering or a technological vocation requiring knowledge of chemistry.
‘Some would stay away because of the work and math involved,? he recalled. ‘Now, every student who graduates form high school must have a year of chemistry or physics.?
Agar’s certainly had his fair share of bright students.
While teaching physics in the 1980s, Agar included a semester exam where students entered a competition offered by NASA for space shuttle projects. He had three semifinalists in three different years, and those students went to the Louis Research Center in Cleveland. Another student, Andrew Stein, was a 2008 Presidential Scholar.
‘Andy selected me as the teacher who most influenced him and had the greatest effect,? Agar said. ‘We went to Washington in June. It was very fabulous.?
Although Agar’s taught every science course offered at the school including physics, biology and earth science, he enjoyed chemistry the most.
‘I can make the most applications to real-world examples from chemistry,? he explained. ‘I try to give those examples as I go over new materials. They then have a way to hook the knowledge into their brain because I can make application to it.?
One of his favorite parts of being in the classroom is helping point students in the right direction for their future.
‘When I was young there were five careers ? police officer, fireman, doctor, nurse and maybe a carpenter,? he said. ‘Now, there are thousands that some students aren’t even aware of. I encourage them to take as many classes as they can to find interests they might not even know they had. I’ve enjoyed walking with students as they grow in their educational quest and then presenting things they’d not thought of before.?
In retirement, Agar plans to continue his passion for woodworking. He likes to work on small projects, including using wood like walnut, maple and purple heart to make wooden quilt squares.
For now, he gives them away but may sell them in his retirement years.
With two master’s degrees under his belt, is it possible Agar might go for a doctoral degree?
Pointing to Lynne, his wife of 14 years and who has a Ph.D in psychology, he jokingly likes to say, ‘I married my Ph.D. It was a lot easier.?