David C. Primmer a.k.a. Primdog is one of our schools most well-known and well-loved teachers. Ask any "pup", as he calls his students, and they will be able to recount not only the discussions in his literature classes and his difficult essays and tests, but the surprising and hilarious moments that often result from "circling the wagons" and reading the current book in class, the excitement that comes along with the occasional "dollar question" and the various traditions and quirks found in each class with Mr. Primmer.
Mr. Primmer began teaching in 1975, in Michigan. He remained at the job for 5 years, and then "got a tip", as he says it, to go overseas. So he moved his family to Okinawa, Japan, where he also taught for 5 years before transferring to Germany. In Germany he worked for 20 years in 3 different high schools before moving here, to Quantico, where he has worked for the past 10 years. At Quantico, he has taught an impressive number and range of classes, including an 8th grade research class, nearly every high school English class from Honors 9 to AP literature, College Prep, AVID, and speech.
Mr. Primmer explained his lengthy time at Quantico, saying that he usually stays at a school for 10 years because the teaching itself makes the experience great. "If I don't love the kids," he says, "I get out." When asked about why he was leaving at this point, Mr. Primmer gave a simple explanation- "Don't you think 40 years is enough?" However, he did say he wanted to spend more time with The Most Beautiful Woman in the World, his wife.
Mr. Primmer's favorite moments at Quantico are too many to name, but he did say that, "I get the biggest kick not when I do something good, but when one pup does something great." He mentioned students who didn't think they were "smart enough" to take an AP class but proved to be exceptional students. One of the best things about Mr. Primmer's classes is the knowledge that you are among many pups from over the years, many of whom may be older students from Quantico or people you never met, but all of whom were influenced in a way by Mr. Primmer and their experience in his classes. I asked Mr. Primmer if he had any stories about one of his old pups that he would like to share, but he said "that would be like asking a father which of his kids he likes best."
Finally, I asked what Mr. Primmer would say to all of his pups still in the school, and what he would say to all the students who haven't had a chance to take a class with him. To all the pups, "My heart breaks at the very thought of leaving you. The only thought, that brings a smile to my face, is that you continue the good work and become even greater than as I already see you." And to the pups that could have been, he simply quoted Jim Croce's folk song, "Time in a Bottle," saying, "If I could have time in a bottle, I'd save every day to spend it with you."
Mr. Primmer began teaching in 1975, in Michigan. He remained at the job for 5 years, and then "got a tip", as he says it, to go overseas. So he moved his family to Okinawa, Japan, where he also taught for 5 years before transferring to Germany. In Germany he worked for 20 years in 3 different high schools before moving here, to Quantico, where he has worked for the past 10 years. At Quantico, he has taught an impressive number and range of classes, including an 8th grade research class, nearly every high school English class from Honors 9 to AP literature, College Prep, AVID, and speech.
Mr. Primmer explained his lengthy time at Quantico, saying that he usually stays at a school for 10 years because the teaching itself makes the experience great. "If I don't love the kids," he says, "I get out." When asked about why he was leaving at this point, Mr. Primmer gave a simple explanation- "Don't you think 40 years is enough?" However, he did say he wanted to spend more time with The Most Beautiful Woman in the World, his wife.
Mr. Primmer's favorite moments at Quantico are too many to name, but he did say that, "I get the biggest kick not when I do something good, but when one pup does something great." He mentioned students who didn't think they were "smart enough" to take an AP class but proved to be exceptional students. One of the best things about Mr. Primmer's classes is the knowledge that you are among many pups from over the years, many of whom may be older students from Quantico or people you never met, but all of whom were influenced in a way by Mr. Primmer and their experience in his classes. I asked Mr. Primmer if he had any stories about one of his old pups that he would like to share, but he said "that would be like asking a father which of his kids he likes best."
Finally, I asked what Mr. Primmer would say to all of his pups still in the school, and what he would say to all the students who haven't had a chance to take a class with him. To all the pups, "My heart breaks at the very thought of leaving you. The only thought, that brings a smile to my face, is that you continue the good work and become even greater than as I already see you." And to the pups that could have been, he simply quoted Jim Croce's folk song, "Time in a Bottle," saying, "If I could have time in a bottle, I'd save every day to spend it with you."
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