What I learned from Doc Buchanan

In 1960, our family moved to Clovis, which, at that time, was the most ineffective school district in the Valley.

At the football games, there were more young hoods behind the bleachers fighting than were watching the game. Clovis did not know how to compete in the classroom or on the football field.

Then Floyd Buchanan was employed and the district immediately started to change. Local citizens were circulating petitions to remove him from the district. That summer, Dr. Buchanan was teaching a class at Fresno State. I was determined to learn if he was inept and to see if he really had horns protruding out of his head.

What a wonderful six weeks. I learned that:

▪ Schools were not constructed for school boards’ amusement.

Administrators were there to support the teachers and students in the classroom.

▪  If students wanted to play a sport, there would be uniforms for them and they would not be cut from the team.

▪ He expected all students to be on grade level.

▪ If 100 girls wanted to be cheerleaders, then we would have 100 cheerleaders.

Thank you, Doc. I never forgot what you taught me that wonderful summer.

This story was originally published August 26, 2015 at 7:48 AM with the headline "What I learned from Doc Buchanan."