GALWAY– EMC3 Staffer Melissa MacDonald sat down with Mr. Barkley for lunch on Friday, January 6th–the day he turned in his retirement letter to Galway Superintendent Mrs. LaBelle–to discuss his long career at Galway.

Melissa: How was your first year?

Mr. Barkley: It was 1970, and I was a wanderer. I didn’t have a room or a home base. I taught seventh grade math and eighth grade science. That went on for a few years, and then I picked up a local course for ninth grade. But those were the days where all you needed was one math class to graduate. At some point, I dropped the science and became a seventh grade math teacher all day. Shortly after that, I picked up geometry, and I guess since then the only thing I haven’t taught is eighth grade math. I’ve done all the rest.

M: How much have things changed over the years, from start to finish?

B: I don’t know if this is a true statement or not, but this is what I feel; I feel that most kids don’t care. So trying to be an inspiration to people who are…’uninspirable,’ has actually been tougher. I remember a great group that went through Algebra 2/Trig a few years ago. And the kids came in on a daily basis, their homework assignments were done; it actually made my knees a little bit shaky, I didn’t know how to handle all this. When I had an assignment for the next day, as I usually do, they got their agendas out, there was no complaining. No, “Can I do just nine instead of all ten?” and all that stuff. And they all passed the Regents. That was my one good year. All the rest of them I kind of had to fight with. I look at people who pass the Regents as if it was my grade.  So if only 75% of the kids pass the Regents that year, then I got a 75%, I’m a C teacher. And that never made me feel good. But I’m willing to fight back, and prod them and talk to them, and say ‘Hey, come on, you can do better, you should do better.’

M: What is one of your funniest, best memories? I know you have a lot of stories.

B: All of my memories are good memories, and everything is really mixed in. People tend to focus on the little things and that just drags them down. I let those things bounce off me and go through the rest of my day so that every day is a good day. So you had a few bad things happen, pick yourself up and dust yourself off, and move on! They call it life, and if you let something get you down it will.

M: What were your first impressions of Galway/the community/the kids?

B: I came from a smaller school, so Galway was big-time. I felt more in control here, I think. It took 42 years to get from 8^th grade to high school. All good days…42 times 180 of them.

M: Any wisdom to impart to us?

B: That’s what I’ve been doing in the past half hour!

M: What are your plans?

B: I have no plans really. I’ll have more time for golf…but I don’t golf. I’ll spend more time with the grandkids… but wait, I don’t have any… So little projects, more travel, volunteerism, exploring my interests, but not enough to commandeer my life. I just want to make sure I’m not working with my stamps 25 days in a row.

Were you fortunate enough to have Mr. Barkley as your teacher? Leave a comment below, a memory of his class, or your thoughts for him as he retires. Thank you!