An Ancient Teacher

An Interview with Ed Baklini

By Type Ryter

The retirement age in America is around sixty-five years old, but my seventy-year-old former teacher loves his job and enjoys educating middle school minds. Mr. Ed Baklini has been teaching for over forty years and keeps in touch with many of his students even after they have left the school, including myself. Mr. Baklini currently teaches world history and has high hopes for his students and future generations. He has coached baseball, softball, and basketball and taught economics, geography, and his favorite subject, history. He also recently won The Inaugural Albuquerque Academy Alumni Council Faculty Legacy Award. A recent estimate states that he has taught or coached over 4,000 students from Albuquerque Academy.

Mr. Baklini attended the University of New Mexico and began his teaching career at a local school. Mr. Baklini, or Mr. Bak as he is known by his sixth graders, is often teased for his age as people wish him Happy Birthday daily and remind him that he is old. He doesn’t mind because he knows that he is appreciated. Mr. Baklini often jokes about his age, saying that he had a pet dinosaur a long time ago. A memorable quote from his class still remains in my memory: “History never repeats itself, it rhymes.” Mr. Baklini is a great person to discuss various topics with, whether it is in the past, present, or future. He has always been an inspiration and a very wise person to consult for advice.

What childhood experience shaped you into who you are today?

My relationship with other adults when I was young. I had some wonderful mentors and teachers and my relationships with those people kind of created and shaped my own character and my future. Those people had a great impact on me.

Who was the most influential person in your life?

My father and my mother. My father and my mother were certainly influential in my life. But outside my family? Well, my coaches and teachers, for sure. Okay, you want anybody named in particular? I don't know if I can name anybody because all of them contributed in some way to the person that I am today and the teacher that I am today.

In what way did they change you?

They didn't change me. They shaped me. It's like, hopefully for you, your teachers and your parents, they're helping shape your future right now in many ways.

What is one of your core values?

Unity.

Why do you believe in this?

Because if you don't have unity within a society in some ways, then society will essentially destroy itself.

What advice do you have for future generations?

Be kind, be respectful, work hard, and be uniters, not dividers.

What do you wish young people would understand?

Gosh, there's so many things. I'm trying to just think of one thing that stands out. Well, you can name a lot of things. I'm going to have to name a lot of things. I want them to understand the meaning of togetherness, the meaning of compassion, the meaning of acceptance, the meaning of not being judgmental. There are so many things. The meaning of fact versus opinion, the meaning of not being fooled along the way, the meaning of integrity, the meaning of liking yourself. I think I'll end with that one. If you like yourself, you do not have to. You give yourself a hug every day. You don't have to make any changes.

What are you teaching in your class currently?

I'm teaching a different curriculum right now, but I teach the same way. I teach cause and effect. I can put you anywhere on the history timeline. If you look in one direction, that's what the cause was. You look in the other direction, that's what the result was. Anywhere you're on the timeline, I'm teaching right now. When did I start with you? Did I start with you in 1940? Yeah, 1940, right around World War II. Now I'm starting with 1900 with the seventh graders. And I'm going to the present. With the sixth graders, I'm doing before 1900. I'm doing things like the Industrial Revolution, the Gilded Age, the American Revolution, and the Civil War. I'm moving them along the timeline. It’s a little different curriculum now, but I still teach the same way. I use PowerPoint. I use pop quizzes. I use puns. I use cheesy jokes. I do all the same things. I get them all mad at me. It's a lot of fun. It’s what I like to do.