My Life, My Teaching: It starts with education at Illinois State

Alumni: Robert Bruce Felty

Graduation Year:

'70

Occupation:

Executive Vice-President

Major/Minor:

BS in Business Administration

How does the theme "it starts with education" relate to you?

I have failed as a teacher at every level I tried. Thank goodness I am a pretty good student or I would be up a creek. Teaching, trying to, taught me to look elsewhere for a paid career vocation; and it worked. The experience was honest and sober, but probably drove some to wonder about the value of their investment.

Was there a particular event or experience that made you decide to pursue the field of education?

I was driven from the field of education by my marketing teacher who told me, honestly, that I should never count on marketing to make money. He was right at the time, but thank goodness I tried again.

How did you know that you were meant to be an educator?

My Grandfather, both parents, one brother, my wife and one of my sons were/are fabulous teachers. I just did not get that gene.

Was there a particular faculty member or class that helped shape your thinking on the role of educators?

I substitute taught eighth grade English while waiting on the draft in 1970. I told my first class everything that I knew in ten minutes. The third day an accelerated class presented themselves in my room and I knew from the moment of "Hello" that I was over my head. My last teaching class was for undergraduate credit for the University of Virginia. At last Thomas Jefferson and I had something in common. When the students evaluated me at the end of the semester I forced myself to harm no other living creature for the rest of my life. The class was taught two nights a week for eight weeks and it was brutal.

What was the most significant aspect of your student teaching experience?

On the job training is the most profound experience that one can endure, if he or she lives to tell about it. It is like jumping into a swim pool and you swim or you don't. Both are so real and profound.

If you are no longer a teacher (retired or left the field), please tell us how you use your knowledge as an educator in your life today.

I use my education and my teaching experience everyday of the week. It is my sounding board to deal with problems and with people. I have to evaluate problems, situations and hiring and firing. Looking people straight in the eye and being honest about everything takes courage, knowledge and a certain gift for the right words at the right time. I am a little Irish in that way.

Tell us about a new invention that came about during your teaching career and changed the way you taught.

I love technology and the immense and immediate communication impact it has for far flung topics such as sharing info for raising teenagers to being caught in a war zone. Communication is, almost, everything.