Faculty Spotlight: Mr. Camp

GABBY GUTMAN '08

Mr. Camp is an absolutely amazing teacher. Every day during the first and second terms I looked forward to his class. I always knew that it would lift my spirits if I had a bad day or create a memory that would last me a lifetime. When a test or quiz came up, I would never panic, but rather, I would be excited. Mr. Camp’s tests and quizzes were always fun to take whether he had us relate baseball positions to vocabulary words or draw Oedipus Rex solving the riddle of the sphinx. This English class has shown me that learning can be fun, even if I am learning something that is seems mundane like Sophocles or grammar. Mr. Camp has been one of the best teachers I have ever had, and I learned a lot more about him through this interview.

Q: What is your most embarrassing moment in your childhood?
A: I was really quiet as a kid and, actually, I am pretty quiet in my personal life. But when I teach, I am loud which is sort of weird. When I was young, I got spanked by my mom in front of a lot of people as she yelled, “Why don’t you talk to people?” That was a really embarrassing moment.

Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in Arlington, MA. I have an older brother and an older sister, so that makes me the baby of the family. We had no pets at all growing up, because my mom didn’t like them. Now I have two dogs, two cats, two birds, and I support all animal rights.

Q: Where is your favorite place to be?
A: My favorite places to be are at home with my family, in the classroom teaching, or on a football field coaching.

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?
A: I hate it when people litter their cigarette butts; it’s annoying and I don’t get it. I also don’t like having to deal with my own OCDs. I need to have my right foot in front of my left when I am standing still or tying my shoes. Also, almost everything I do is based on a number system even though I am a word kind of guy. I have an obsession with needing Neutrogena hand cream. My whole life is governed by OCDs that others may not notice, but that affect me constantly.

Q: What is your favorite type of food?
A: I love chicken. If I am celebrating, I would want Indian food, chicken Indian food. Oh yeah, and salt bagels. I also hate mushrooms and olives with a passion.

Q: What is your favorite and least favorite movie?
A: My favorite movies are: Good Will Hunting, Pulp Fiction, Jindabyne, Memento, and Fargo. I only want to see a movie if it’s going to change my life or leave me thinking; a movie that didn’t do that is Smooth Talk, which was a waste of two hours.

Q: Do you have any TV show addictions?
A: I love LOST, American Idol, Seinfeld, sports, news; those are like my OCDs—I love them and could watch them all the time. My son was laughing ‘cause I was watching an episode of Seinfeld, and when he saw me laugh he did the same. That was cool. My son Grady just turned one year old, and he has a little sister arriving in July. Yikes!

Q: What is your favorite book?
A: As an English teacher, obviously I have a lot, but O’Brien’s In the Lake of the Woods is really deep and dark, and I love dark literature. My favorite Shakespeare play is King Lear, the darkest of the dark!

Q: What do you admire most in your students?
A: I admire depth and the ability to understand that learning and fun can happen at the same time.

Q: Why did you start teaching?
A: I knew in high school. I loved English, and it is very cool when I realized I could spend every day doing it. I think I have the ideal life: every day I get to teach and coach, which is incredible. I also love to read students’ writing and to hear how they think; I enjoy being part of that process. I keep a list of every student I’ve ever taught and periodically go through the list so I remember everybody. So, in 20 years, I’ll be able to say, “Oh, Gabby Gutman, she was in my Black Class at Beaver.”

Q: Who was your favorite teacher?
A: In college, I had an amazing professor who was deep and analyzed a lot of things. I hope I am doing the same in my teaching. He made me realize then that you could take anything and look at it from all different angles, as long as you support what you say. And then you can have any analysis.

Q: Do you have a favorite word?
A: Perspicacity: very aware, intelligently aware. I really don’t like the phrase “shut up”.

Q: How do you like your experience at Beaver so far?
A: I love the format, what the school represents, the progressive aspect, and the students have been awesome. It has been an overall great experience. I’m sad about leaving, and I’m especially going to miss the students and the English department teachers.

Q: How does Beaver compare to the other schools you have taught at?
A: I came from teaching at an all-boys catholic school for 8 years and teaching at boarding school the four years before that. And this is the opposite end of the spectrum, but it’s great. Going from all boys to co-ed isn’t really different, but it is proven that boys will participate more if they are alone. I believe that, if you engage the class, everyone will participate.

Q: Do you have a tattoo?
A: I don’t have one, but if I were to get one it would be a hand holding a skull, which is a Hamlet reference. When Hamlet looks at the skull he contemplates the fact that one day we will all be reduced to skulls, it’s common in all of our humanity. During life when you are not a skull, you have to be good to the people around you, so that they will remember you and your impact on each other will be meaningful.

Q: What sports did you play growing up?
A: I was a three-sport athlete through high school. I played football, basketball, and baseball. I played football at Middlebury College.

Q: Are there any interesting facts about you that you would like to share?
A: Ummm…In high school I had a flat top. Everyday I would wash it, then blow dry it with gel, blow it again, and then use wax to make it stick up. Not quite the same these days. I love puppets and Broadway musicals especially Wicked, Hairspray, and Rent. I also once coached women’s football!

Q: What is the story behind the baseball bat you always carry around with you?
A: My First year teaching, I needed a prop for class because I was doing something with puppets. It turned out I had an old bat lying around my apartment that I had since I was 9 years old. After class I was walking with the bat in the halls, and everyone was questioning it. I realized that if you do something just a little differently everyone is obsessed with it and wants to know the story behind it. So, since that day, throughout 13 years of teaching, I have always had it with me. Carrying it with me represents teaching, family, and sports, the three most important things in my life.

Q: What is the story behind the website you have for all of your students?
A: I wanted to make a good way for my students to have access to information on my class. My wife, who was a pro figure skater, and did Disney on ice for 7 years, took a web course designing web pages. When she stopped touring, she made a site for me. I have no idea how to do it on my own; it was all her. All I do is input the info each day, which I think is helpful for everyone (especially when I put extra credit on it for quizzes or tests!).

Mr. Camp has left a lasting impression on numerous Beaver students. Just ask Jessica Penzias ’08, who said, “Mr. Camp is without a doubt one of the best teachers I have ever had. I have always loved literature but now I have an increased passion for the study of literature. He is not only invested in his lessons, but also, he has a great passion for inspiring and befriending his students. I am so grateful to have met him.” Sarah Mink ’08 eagerly added, “Mr. Camp embodies progressive education at its best. His love for Lost and his innovative methods have left a lasting impression on all of his students.”

If you have not had the great opportunity of having Mr. Camp as a teacher, I would highly suggest introducing yourself. Unfortunately, he will not be back at BCDS next year. He was recently offered a job at St. Mark’s high school where he will teach English and be the Head Coach of their football team. He has been a great asset to the Beaver community and will be missed by everyone when he leaves.


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Mr. Greenberg’s Seventh Grade Class Tackles "Movie Madness"

LUCAS JUDSON ’13 (middle school)

Editor’s note: Every year, Mr. Greenberg’s seventh grade class undertakes a moviemaking project. You can see Diego Fiori’s film from last year on YouTube.

Summer Love is perhaps the greatest movie of its sort I have ever had the good fortune to see. This magical film is about one child, Jem Finch and Rosemary Harris during the summer after the incident with Boo Radley and Jem breaking his arm. Rosemary comes to Maycomb County instead of Dill and Jem is immediately entranced by her elegant beauty. Written by Harry Polstein and directed by Natiah Camillo. Vote for Summer Love at the seventh grade movie madness festival.

Editor’s note: As a bonus, since Lucas’ articles run a little short, here is another piece by Mr. Judson:

Hi, it’s Lucas Judson here with my weekly column. I will take Steven Manwaring’s advice and write an article about him. Steven Manwaring, as you may know, is an amazing guitarist, and he broke his wrists last week. That truly is pathetic, but not quite as bad as doing that on a Wii, or even a regular video game.
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The Mysteries of Beaver: The History of Baba and Coco

MADDY KIEFER '08 and TOPH TUCKER '08

It may not really be the sort of mystery you're used to, since you've probably never heard of it or even seen any hint of it. But sixty years ago, the Beaver campus, in addition to students, had a small collection of animals! A storybook written by the fourth grade class (oh yeah, they also had an elementary school) in 1940 tells the tale of two of these animals: Baba the lamb and Coco the goat. Rescued from the archives, read the full story (with pictures!) after the break.

THE HISTORY of BABA AND COCO

Story by
Joan Adie
Dotty Beckwith
Isabel Closson
Nancy Eaton
Patsy Fahnestock
Barbara Hicks
Anne Hopkins
Edie Howes
Teedy LaCroix
Joan Olmsted
Isabelle Paine
Pegsy Tyler
Judy Wyatt
Nancy Fay Williams

Photographs by
Pegsy Tyler
Miss Lincoln
Miss Lundstedt
Miss Torrey
Dr. Williams

Manuscript Writing by
Miss Lincoln

To
Miss Voorhees
who loves animals,
especially
these two,
this book is dedicated.

---

THE HISTORY
of
BABA AND COCO

by CLASS FOUR
BEAVER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL

MAY 1940

---

INTRODUCTION
This is a book about two unusual animals. You may have heard of Mary's little lamb who went to school, but did you ever hear of a goat and a lamb who went to school together? That is what Baba and Coco have done. Many times this year we have heard their feet come tap-tapping down the hall and into the classrooms. They have even been in plays.They are great friends although they are very different. Baba is calm and patient. He has quiet manners. Coco is just the opposite. He is frisky and mischievous and is likely to set a bad example for Baba. He is a smart little goat and he knows it very well too. He cannot bear to be last. He has even grabbed the first page in this book, even though it is mostly about Baba.

This is Coco. He looks like an ordinary goat, but he isn't. Once he went down the slide you see in the picture. When you run, he comes jumping after you. He has a tiny tail and when you spank him, he wags it

Here is Baba, our lamb. His wool was three inches thick, so Mr. Crory sheared him. But you will hear about the shearing somewhere else in the book. This is when he was not sheared. He is visiting the rabbits. Don't you think his wool looks thick?



Coco is feeling lively today. He knows it is meal-time and he is eager to get breakfast. We shut the log cabin door when we get his food so he won't gobble it all up. He gets very impatient when he is waiting and jumps up on the door. But the door is locked and he can't get in this time.

Baba knows we are putting his food in his pan inside the log cabin. He is trying to get the door open to get in to his food. But he isn't as frisky as Coco is. He waits patiently and does not jump for his breakfast. There is a pail of water outside the door, but Baba is not interested. He says, "Breakfast comes first."

Baba and Coco are eating their meal of grain. If you were to push Coco on his forehead he would make a funny little noise to show you that he did not wish to be disturbed during meal time. When Coco, the fast eater, finishes his meal he goes to Baba, the slow eater, and finishes eating out of Baba's dish.

This is the day that everybody has been waiting for, and that is to see Baba being sheared. Mr. Crory is shearing him. His legs are tied together so he will not kick. The children are watching from outside the fence. If you touch Baba's wool, it is very oily. It is yellow inside. Baba is being very good.

How would you like to help shear Baba? That is what we are doing in this picture. Everybody is going to have a turn. Nowadays our wool clothes are made in factories. Children do not often get the chance to cut the wool off the lamb and go through the whole process of making something useful out of it.

Coco was taken out for a little walk so that he wouldn't make Baba excited while he was being sheared. In this picture he has just come back and is wishing that Baba would come and play with him. Poor Baba is having a bad time of it, but he is almost finished.



Now the shearing is over and Baba is feeling a little embarrassed without his coat. He does not know what is going to happen to it.

If you could have seen Baba's wool when it was first cut off! It was dirty and greasy and full of straws and sticks. So we washed it and dried it and picked it over till it was clean. Then one sunny day we went out-of-doors and dyed it blue and red and yellow. Some of it we left white.

Before wool can be spun it has to be carded. The cards have little wires that comb the fibres so they all go one way. We are carding in this picture. Coco has come to see what it's all about.

Spinning is the most fun, even though it is hard. You give the spindle a twirl and that twists the thread. Sometimes it breaks, but you must not be discouraged. A little practice will make you a good spinner.

At last we have begun weaving. Back and forth, back and forth go our shuttles. The gay colors are growing on our looms. The cloth will soon be done.

Coco is inviting Baba to spend the summer with him at camp and Baba has accepted his invitation. Do you think they will be glad to come back to school next fall? We hope they will be able to go into the fifth grade.

We want to say thank you to Madame Lannoye for helping us about spinning.
We also got ideas about spindles from
The Weaver's Craft - Simpson

Thanks to Ms. Boylan for finding and scanning the storybook

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A (Rather Long) Day in the Life of the Beaver Girls’ Lacrosse Team

MADDY KIEFER '08

On April 11, after our Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse team suffered a loss in our first game of the season, all we wanted to do was go home, eat a big dinner, and forget about the game we just had. Unfortunately for us, fate had something else in store. After driving for about five minutes, our bus broke down in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, a.k.a. No Man’s Land.

Our engine died once we reached the top of a hill on Route 24, and Bruce, our friendly bus driver, informed us that we had to wait for another bus to take us home. It would probably be about two hours before we could head back. Upon hearing this information, everyone looked around uneasily, eyeing the vast swaths of forest and highway and the complete lack of civilization beyond the cars zipping by.

Suddenly, everyone was starving. Regardless of the fact that we had just eaten four packs of Chewy bars, somehow being stranded created a very, very powerful second wave of hunger. As if that weren’t enough, the entire team began to feel claustrophobic, so we filed off the bus and onto the area of grass beside the highway. Jesse Rosenberg ’09 whipped out her phone and insisted that she was going to find a pizza place that would deliver to a deserted bus off of I-95.

Initially, she didn’t have any luck, but she eventually reached Joe from Domino’s. After telling him her entire life story (“So we just were like KILLED in our lacrosse game—we lost like 15-0, it was terrible…. And now we are all SO HUNGRY and we have been here for hours and we really need food!”), she finally convinced him that he had to deliver to us for the sake of our well-being. My bet is that we were the only business they had that night—plus, we were ordering five pizzas, and an order that size had probably come along twice in Portsmouth history.

Everyone relaxed once Joe told us it would be about 45 minutes until the food arrived. We began playing some of our typical team bonding games, one of which included people screaming “HIIIYAAAA!” at random intervals. This, of course, caused some passing commuters to stare—as if 17 girls in skirts stranded on the side of the highway wasn’t strange enough already.

We grew bored of “hiya,” so we started waving at cars and trying to get trucks to honk their horns, but this decision was a big mistake. A few teammates (who will remain anonymous) decided to wave frantically at an ambulance as it passed. No more than five minutes later, two police cars arrived on the scene. Turns out the ambulance called for backup. They thought we were medically impaired, and Officer Brian Peters told us that “an emergency was no laughing matter.” But it was clear that, like Joe from Dominoes, Brian had nothing better to do that night, and he stayed long enough for Laura Bulkeley '08 to snap a picture of him.

We continued to play games after Brian left, but it started to get a little chilly as the sun began to set. When Dominic, another employee of Domino’s, delivered our pizza and cinnamon sticks, we all layered up (including Alex Strawbridge '10, who wore Bruce’s giant Red Sox jacket, and Nicole Cassels ’08, who wore Ms. Anderson’s sweatpants) and ate in a “progressive” circle on the side of the highway.

After two and a half hours of excitement, Steve finally arrived with our new bus. After giving him a newspaper and some pizza to eat while he waited for the tow truck to come, the entire team (including Bruce, who would stay our loyal and loving bus driver) migrated to the new bus and began our two hour trek back to Beaver. Bruce entertained us by giving a fully detailed account on how he became a bus driver. Apparently, as the football team’s captain, he was the most popular guy in school, and went on to fight in the Vietnam War before creating a cement company with his brother. After his brother passed away five years ago, he closed the company and decided to have pizza parties on the side of the road with awesome teams like ours.

Eventually, after a very long and certainly eventful evening, we returned to Beaver. Although it wasn’t exactly the Friday night that everyone expected to have, it was definitely something that the team will remember for years to come. We slept easy that night knowing that we gave the town of Portsmouth the most exciting night they’ve had in a long, long time.

Further reading:
Wikipedia entry on the glorious town of Portsmouth, RI

Thanks to Ms. Anderson and Laura Bulkeley for the photos!

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Where are they now? - Mr. Lenci

TOPH TUCKER '08

Kent Lenci taught 6th Grade Humanities and 7th Grade History at Beaver for several years, in addition to briefly serving as Middle School Dean. He may have left four years ago, but his legacy lives on...

Mr. Lenci sends along this message:

"Anna Soybel's ceramic pig adorns my window sill at school (yes, I know that she, too, has moved on from the Beav), and Frankie Orangecapris (the attractive, orange rat) hangs from my bulletin board (I believe he was named by the [class of '07]). I teach seventh grade history and head the social studies department at Brookwood, which is a coed, pre-K through 8 school in Manchester, MA. To most in the Beaver community, it is old news that Jessica Stillman and I were married in July of 2006; to some it may not be.

"I think of you all often! Best wishes to the whole crowd."

As for anyone wondering about the whereabouts of everyone's favorite class bird, he says, "I fabricate my own enticing birdseed, which has lured Wheedle from whence he once perched outside my former classroom."

Don't worry, I bet he still visits now and then. :) Many thanks to Mr. Lenci for the update!
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The Mysteries of Beaver: The Stained Glass Windows

MADDY KIEFER ‘08

Atop the two main staircases in Beaver, flanking the McElwain Studio, sit two stained glass windows: a knight and a king. They seem a little out of place, and I often wondered how and why they got there. With a little digging, though, it becomes clear that they are actually emblematic of a big part of Beaver history.

Back in the 20s and 30s, the “Arts and Crafts” movement was slowly beginning to wind down, but its influence on Beaver’s curriculum remained. Until the 1950’s, students at Beaver had majors, each of which had its own set of specific classes. For art majors, classes and activities included bookbinding, printmaking, metal work, costume and set design, and so on. Many of these classes required a final project for every student, and the stained glass windows are likely a result of that.

The window of the knight was created by Sylvia Van Ness Martin, class of ’37. Sylvia was the daughter of Beatrice Whitney Van Ness, Beaver’s first Art Department Head, who actually designed McElwain studio. It is unclear who made the window of the king, and whether it is in any way associated.

The Beaver archives include pictures of many of these activities, and even samples of students’ creations. Shown here are just a few. The attic holds an even more tangible relic: an actual manual printing press, albeit lacking the expensive type fonts needed to start printing again.

While work of this sort has largely disappeared from Beaver, and art projects have perhaps turned more abstract than practical, traces of that era remain in the cross-curricular creative projects Beaver students still undertake. For evidence, drop by the 8th graders’ annual CSP fair on Friday, May 30.

Special thanks to Ms. Boylan, Mr. Gow, and Toph Tucker

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The Breakdown

We'll have more on this later, but for now post your thoughts in the comments.
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