Lessons learned from the NAVY to the classroom

by Nicholas Papadopolous

James O’Donnell went from jumping off cliffs to teaching about the physics behind it in no time.
“I had always wanted to join the U.S. NAVY”, said James O’Donnell, “I lived near the ocean and I loved the sea.”
James O’Donnell planned his whole life around a career in the U.S. NAVY. He wanted to be a pilot, but his dreams were shot down. He served from 1966 to 1967, and he would have served longer, but during flight training, O’Donnell was jumping off of a cliff and he landed awkwardly and hurt his leg. He was discharged with a disability, and he had to make a decision on what to do next.
“Physics teachers are few and far between, so I found a job at Stoughton”, said O’Donnell.
Soon after his injury, O’Donnell got a job teaching at Stoughton High. Once the school year ended, he went back to graduate school and got his decree. O’Donnell then went back to teaching, but this time he taught at Brockton High. While there, he coached the girl’s track and field team and won eight state championships. After thirty years of coaching and teaching, O’Donnell decided to retire, but the retirement was short-lived.
A friend of O’Donnell’s told him that Pembroke High was looking for a physics teacher. So, O’Donnell and Principal Ruth Lynch talked, and now O’Donnell is currently one of the two physics teachers at Pembroke High School.
Students at Pembroke High have learned from his unique teaching style. Coming from the NAVY where the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct are expected, students didn’t know what to expect from O’Donnell.
“Maybe [serving in the U.S. NAVY] affected my teaching, it definitely did initially, but I don’t think it does anymore”, said O’Donnell.
“I think he’s lightened up as the years gone along”, said junior Bobby Owen, a student of O’Donnell’s, “at first he was strict about stupid things, like drinks and stuff, but he’s lightened up lately.
“Just do the work” is a phrase commonly used by O’Donnell in the classroom. This is a different style of teaching than most other teachers at Pembroke who help the students work to the answers.
“He expects a lot from us”, said senior John Procter, a student of O’Donnell’s, “and physics is one of the hardest classes offered [at Pembroke].”
As proof of the difficulty of physics, according to edline.net, the class average for O’Donnell’s period 3 CP1 physics class is a 52%. But anybody who can succeed in O’Donnell’s physics class has an understanding of physics and a possible future in physics.