By: Caleb Griffiths ’23
Q: Could you please state your name and occupation for the record?
A: David Pothier, history teacher.
Q: Mr Pothier, I’m here trying to understand what it was like for previous generations of LCA students. So, may I ask, how long have you been teaching at LCA?
A: I am in my 20th year of teaching LCA.
Q: How has LCA changed over the duration of your tenure ?
A: Obviously one of the biggest changes is that technology– particularly information technology– has really become a much more seamless part of life.
I can remember my first year teaching. The Student Life Director was concerned that a student had a portable television and DVD player, and was showing episodes of Family Guy in between [classes]. They were thinking that it- [portable television technology]- would not be allowed. Other kids might not be allowed to watch Family Guy, and this kid was then corrupting them at school. It’s just funny how that is just not a –
Q: Concern Anymore?
A: It’s not not a concern, it’s just ubiquitous, right? You could have access to all that sort of stuff at your fingertips.
When I first started working here, I didn’t have a laptop, and we didn’t have Wi-Fi, so the ability to use technology in the classroom was not as seamless. I actually had to go rent DVDs when I wanted to show just little clips. There wasn’t even any streaming. When I first started here, showing any video, at all, of any quality, the students cheered. Now I find the students do not think video is any different than any other part of the lesson. It does not change their engagement in the slightest, so that’s definitely something that has changed.
I would say video – I mean the access to information technology, particularly video, and streaming video- has just gotten more and more ubiquitous [to the point] where kids are basically able to watch it all the time.
Q: how do you think you’ve grown as a teacher over these twenty years, and what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
A: *audible laugh*
Oh. How have I grown… grown… I have learned that you’ve always got to learn. Right? So,
I thought that at this point in my career, I would feel like I have got everything figured out, and I feel like I have actually less figured it out.
But, as Socrates said, The wise man is one who knows what he does not know, so in that way I do feel like I know something. I kind of realize that you always have to find ways to reach those students there with you at that time and it’s always different.
Q: And then lastly, just about yourself. What was your favorite movie when you started working at LCA, and what is your favorite movie now?
A: um-
Q: or movie series? Or franchise?
A; *audible laugh*
I think this is sort of an obvious answer, but when I first started here, Star Wars was my favorite movie franchise, and to this day, it is still my favorite movie franchise. When I started teaching here, there was only five Star Wars movies, and now-
Q: There’s 9..?
A: There are actually, 11.
Q: Eleven.
A: *audible laugh* So, uh- yeah.
Q: Thank you Mr. Pothier for your time.
A: *audible laugh*