Some know him as “Special K,” and some know him for his riddles, but all know substitute teacher Mr. Sidney Kessler for his humor and love of teaching. The following is an excerpt of an interview with Mr. Kessler himself.
Everyone wants to know: How do you come up with your riddles?
They come from National Public radio—they’re on air.
What is your favorite subject to sub for?
English! And then social studies. I was an English major in college, and I thought I wanted to have a life in television advertising. Life is what happens when you’re making other plans, and I ended up in the advertising world, but certainly not television. And then social studies—I am not particularly interested in ancient history, but instead what’s going on today. Some of the students know this from times when I can’t control myself and have to give an opinion about what the world’s coming to today, mainly in the Middle East. Other subjects… languages are fun, but I’m a loss in math and most of the science. I’ve done everything though; I’ve even played tennis during P.E.!
How did you celebrate your 75th birthday? I came here on my birthday, and I told Mr. Tharp I was coming here for my 75th birthday. Just in passing I told him, 'If I'm going to spend it anywhere, this is a great place, and I'd love to spend it here.' So I got here, and in one of the classes I was it, Mr. Tharp walked in with a cake. It was a big birthday cake with 'Happy 75th Birthday" and candles. We cut up the cake in the class I was in, and then in the last period of the day, when I was free, I walked around with this cake and gave it out to a few teachers.
That evening, we went out to a favorite restaurant with nine other people. Then we came back to our house and my wife Evelyn had a cake and ice cream for dessert. I've never ever celebrate milestone birthdays, but 75 for some reason or another, has hit me, and I think it's because it's three-quarters of a century. It's such a large percentage of a century that it has hit home. Also the fact that I have gotten to this age, is very, very unusual for my family. I'm amazed that I've made it to this age. I am the patriarch of the family; I have no one in the family as old as me.
Tell me about your ties.
I have not had to wear a tie for many years. Only when I started substituting in schools did I have to wear ties again. I retrieved about 20 ties I had in my closet from the 60s and 70s, and I wear them almost exclusively. And now when I wear these ties, no matter what school I go to, at least one person comments on my tie. Retro—that’s a style. Well, I consider myself Mr. Retro.
How do you connect so well to the students?
I have in my 70s finally reached the level of maturity of a teenager. That’s why all of you think I’m awesome. I’m walking around with this quarter-of-a –century body and I’m able to communicate with teenagers. That comes a lot from my grandchildren—I have five grandchildren and a granddaughter –in-law, and it’s just instinctive. I have a youthful outlook on life.
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