My Favorite Teacher, by 5 Happy Former Students .

Throughout my school years, I’ve had many good teachers, but there were two who had an everlasting impact on me and my future. The first was Mrs. Roslyn Feinstein, my high school art teacher at Paterson Eastside High School. She was a very positive person and encouraged all her students to pursue their passions and to strive no matter what level of talent or skills one possessed. She fostered a sense of confidence and accomplishment. It was because of Mrs. Feinstein that I pursued a career in art and design and became an architectural lighting designer. When I was a sophomore, she advised me that the Dramatic Club needed students with artistic talent to do scenery and set designs, so I contacted Miss Grace George, the Dramatic Club advisor, to see if I could help.

Miss “G” welcomed my help and was apparently pleased enough with my work that she eventually made me stage manager. Before I knew it, I was put in charge of all the goings-on backstage. She taught me the importance of working together as a team and to have pride in my work.  Miss “G” and I had a great working relationship and we enjoyed a long-lasting friendship. After graduating from Eastside, I kept in touch with Miss “G” and on Christmas Eves, she would invite me along with many other Dramatic Club alumni to gather at her house for a year end party. 
 

-Barry Citrin, (Paterson) Eastside High School, Class of June, 1963 

As students in Morris Pachman’s class, we were shown a list of topics for our senior research project. Nothing on the list appealed to me.  Instead I wanted to delve into the accuracy and fairness of I.Q. Testing.  At first Mr. Pachman resisted my proposal. Mustering up all my courage, I put forth many reasons why I wanted to undertake something as uncommon as this.  I must have said something good because he finally relented.  I was off and running. This assignment entailed the most memorable research I’ve ever done.  I drew charts on the blackboard and made my oral presentation to the class with a long wooden pointer. Everything started to fall in line and I could sense that it was going well.  It felt that the entire world and my reputation were stretched out before me. Afterward, Mr. Pachman gave me a big compliment and an A+. Inwardly, I gave him an A+ for allowing me to do something different.  He was a dedicated teacher who believed in his students.  We always wanted to earn his respect. 

- Dorothy Douma Greene, (Paterson) Eastside High School, class of 1969       

Al Weiss, my English teacher, always the perfect gentleman, was perhaps the most influential teacher I have ever known. He carefully coaxed me to think out of the box. He challenged me to create original thought essays, unique self analyses to determine my success and a constant empathic presence that delighted me every time I sat in his class.

It has been 62 years but I will never forget his teasing, cajoling manner when he reversed the letters of my first name and in a friendly manner renamed me “Nothanoj.”

It was not until several years later that I realized his direct influence caused me to think deeply about following my Dad’s footsteps into the Rabbinate. I don’t think I have ever told him that.

Alas in recent years we have been divided by a political schism that has cleft our friendship in two.  But to this day my curiosity and Renaissance type interest in everything is the direct result of his masterful, focused and intense guidance during my junior and senior years at EHS.  I understand he lives in the Lauderdale area. I hope and pray he sees this short tribute to his lasting legacy.

-Rabbi Jonathan A. Panitz, (Paterson) Eastside High School, Class of June 1963

My 5th grade teacher at PS 26 was Mr. Carl Canfield. When he was a child he overcame polio which left his speech slightly slurred. He wore a bow tie most days which was part of his character.  Although he taught us most subjects his specialty was science which was right up my alley. He would pick a group of students to do a special science project for several weeks at a time for extra credit. The one I remember participating in was to see how many times a goldfish would open its mouth to breathe in 1 minute. I can picture the big tank in the back of the classroom and recording my findings each day for several weeks.  Of course I never went on to become a scientist, but I loved how he inspired us and loved doing the projects.

 
- Sharon (Charito) Novack Frankel - (Paterson) Public School #26, Class of 1965

When I was a sophomore at Eastside High School I was given the option of taking a combination English and Journalism class. The journalism portion was taught by Miss Kathryn McCabe. Miss McCabe also served as advisor to the school newspaper, The Eastside Criterion, and as a part of the staff my relationship with her lasted through my remaining years at Eastside and extended even after graduation.  I had always loved to write and with this class I was taught a variety of techniques to broaden my writing, ranging from news articles, feature stories, and editorials which provided opportunities to incorporate and apply skills related to the many genres of writing. Miss McCabe taught me all of this and so much more! 

We went to Columbia University conferences for high school journalists, worked with the printers of the newspaper to learn that part of the process, and participated in brainstorming sessions working collaboratively to produce a first class publication for our school. She was a teacher and advisor who expected us to produce quality material and to take pride in ourselves and our finished product. I continued to enjoy writing and even now I hear her voice in my head reminding me of the importance of the process of creating all types of writing pieces. Most importantly, she instilled in me a confidence in myself and my abilities that extended well beyond writing. I followed in her footsteps and became a teacher implementing many of these traits and hopefully I inspired my students as she had so wonderfully inspired me! 

- Jackie Kolin Pierce, (Paterson) Eastside High School, Class of 1966