By ROBERT LINNEHAN
Forget about pressure at a committee meeting, try teaching a bunch of unruly fourth graders.
Anthony Klock’s fourth grade class at Kresson Elementary School will have a special guest for the day, as Voorhees Committee Member Harry Platt participates in the “teacher for a day” program sponsored by the Voorhees Township Education Association.
“The Teacher for a Day program presents an excellent opportunity for community members to see what today’s students and school are all about,” said Voorhees Education Association President Trudith Lockspeiser. “Education has changed greatly since most of us went to school, and it is important for the community to understand those changes in order to plan effectively for meeting the future needs of Voorhees students.”
Platt, though, is no rookie to the teacher for a day program. He has participated in Cherry Hill High School East’s program for the past five years, teaching several classes about his funeral directing business. Plus, he said, his wife has been a teacher for many years and can always offer him some tips.
For his day with the fourth graders, Platt will be focusing on watersheds in Voorhees Township. He’ll meet with Klock on Tuesday, May 10 to focus on the curriculum and to go over his lesson plan for the day.
“We’ll be talking about watersheds in fourth grade science. I’ve very familiar with watersheds working with the township’s open space committee and the county,” he said. “I got a postcard in the mail asking if I would volunteer for a teacher for the day. I’ve been a teacher for a day in Cherry Hill for several years so I jumped at it.”
For several years Platt has also hosted high school classes at his business, Platt Memorial Chapels, to teach them about funeral directing.
Fourth grade might be a bit different than teaching and hosting high school kids, he said with a chuckle, but it should be a good day.
“We applaud Platt for setting aside valuable personal time to demonstrate his commitment to the students and teachers of this community,” Lockspeiser said. “We know it will be time well spent and an enjoyable day for all.”
