Using humour to inspire students
Optimism motivates teens to believe in their math abilities
One of the quotes math teacher William Dulmage likes to share with his students comes from the Bee Movie.
It talks about how bees should not be able to fly because their fat bodies and short wings defy the laws of aviation. But they do because “bees don’t care what humans think is impossible.”
In his 38-year teaching career, Dulmage has inspired his students to follow that example.
Of the many students who nominated him for this year’s Teacher Awards — Dulmage has received an Honourable Mention — most of them cite his ability to motivate, his unflagging optimism, his sense of humour and his passion for his job as the reasons he is so exceptional.
“As soon as I got in the classroom, I realized I loved it and never looked back,” he says. “It allows me to use my math ability and I love working with kids. I enjoy being at the front of the classroom at the blackboard. I guess I’m a math nerd.
“The thing I think I do more than other teachers is help kids believe in themselves,” Dulmage continues. “I encourage kids to set high expectations. I tell them a lot of stories that show if you believe in yourself and work hard, you can do whatever you want.”
Dulmage’s mother and uncle were teachers. He studied math at the University of Waterloo, and while he considered other possibilities, he thought he’d try teaching for a short time.
He was hired at North York’s A.Y. Jackson Secondary School in 1980 and has worked there for all but one year of his career. He has won many awards over the years for teaching and sports coaching, including past recipient of the Edyth May Sliffe Award for Distinguished Mathematics Teaching in Middle School and High School, awarded by the Mathematical Association of America.
“He is adored by students and wellrespected by his peers,” says Jane Lee, vice-principal at A.Y. Jackson.
Dulmage guides the Math Boosters student tutoring program and is an adviser on student council (he never misses a meeting). He eats lunch in his classroom every day, so students can drop in, and he extends the same offer after classes end.
“He is a mentor, guide and a coach” who always looks out for students, Lee says.
Richard Hawkes Cai wasn’t thrilled to hear Dulmage would be his advance functions and calculus teacher last year, he wrote in his nomination letter.
“I was completely horrified, for he had a reputation of being a very hard teacher. However, in my first week of class, he gave a speech on how all of us have the capability of academic success and how he will be there to support us..”
He credits the teacher for improving his work ethic, and Hawkes Cai finished Grade 12 year with a 92 per cent average and was accepted into a prestigious business program.
Dulmage says most students are better at math than they think they are, and he draws on his sports coaching skills to encourage his students. (A women’s fast pitch softball team he coached won a Canadian championship).
Dulmage enjoys following former students on social media. In class, he’ll often start the day by writing the names of two former students on the board and go on to tell stories of what they’ve accomplished since they graduated.
Some work at NASA, Apple or have gone into law, business and medicine.
One former student works on the design team for a company that produces robotic toys. One student, who barely passed math in 1986, went on to get his PhD and is now a professor of economics.
“One of my former students became a vice-president at Microsoft,” Dulmage says. “He came to visit, walked into the math office and said, ‘I’m 27 and I’ve made my first million.’ ”
Dulmage invites former students to talk to his classes about their experiences at university, or connects current students and their parents with a past graduate who can impart advice.
As Dulmage turned 60 during the past school year, students were concerned he was going to retire.
“I threw my own birthday party, bought cake and invited all the kids to come at lunch,” he says. “They made homemade cards and wrote some really heartfelt things about what I meant to them. It was very emotional reading the cards and I did tear up.”
While Dulmage is looking forward to spending his retirement on his hobby farm in Prescott, Ont. — he’s not sure when that will be yet — he admits it will be hard to leave teaching behind.
“I look at it as a career that allows me to make a difference every day,” he says. “It’s given me a chance to change lives.”
William Dulmage says most students are better at math than they think they are, and he draws on his sports coaching skills to encourage his students