The power of teaching: Tim Walz, Paul Wellstone and me

Kamala Harris’ selection of Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz , as her Vice Presidential running mate has been widely acclaimed, with Walz bringing a refreshing “plainspokenness, sense of humour and Midwestern dad vibes” to the Harris presidential campaign. Walz is credited with bringing the “weird” label to former President Trump and his VP nominee J.D. Vance. His gift of straight communication seems to work in our crowded and noisy current media landscape: “the kind of speaker that shifts audiences from ‘us versus them’ to ‘we’… an alternative narrative to the appeal of the far right, precisely because it is capable of restoring a sense of dignity and strengthening the commitment to democracy.”

I have never met Tim Walz, but he and I share something important: a mentor, the late Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone. In January 2005 at age 40, Walz participated in “Camp Wellstone ”, a three-day politics bootcamp that emphasised grassroots politics, organised by Wellstone Action, a nonprofit established by family members and supporters of the late Senator, after he died in a plane crash in October 2002. Camp Wellstone was designed “to teach aspiring leaders in Minnesota and beyond the basics of doorknocking and coalition-building in a few days.”

Walz’s career took off after Camp Wellstone, first as a representative of a conservative Minnesota district in the US House of Representatives, and as Governor of Minnesota since 2018. The Minnesota 2023 legislative session made national headlines for its progressive successes, and was branded the “Minnesota miracle”.

Aside from a commitment to populist progressivism, Walz and Wellstone share something else: both were educators by training and profession, prior to entering politics. Walz taught high school geography, history and social studies for 20 years from 1996 in Nebraska and at Minnesota’s Mankato West High School, where he also coached football as defensive coordinator. “The guy was never negative,” another coach said . “That’s what we loved about him. Everything was a positive.” He wrote a 2001 thesis on Holocaust education for his master’s degree in experiential education from Minnesota State University, Mankato,

Kayley Lyons – one of Walz’s former students in Minnesota now teaching in Melbourne – has described him as “everyone’s favourite teacher” – cool, but not young or trendy enough to be the coolest. “His engaging style persuaded me to become a better citizen, and … even now, his teaching still challenges me to think and learn in everything I do. Watching him now, I am in awe at how he is still the same person,” Lyons writes .

Paul Wellstone also taught for 21 years at Minnesota’s Carleton College , where his “passion for students and engaging teaching style made him an endearing presence on campus … [urging] students to put their education to practice.” Wellstone’s teaching also made a profound impact on my life and career, as he was my teacher one summer in California. Shortly after Wellstone’s death in 2002, I published the following reflection of his influence :

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As one of my first real mentors, Paul Wellstone instilled a nuanced and deep political consciousness in me, and I will never forget him.?In the (northern) summer of 1971, following my first year of university, I enrolled in summer programs at the University of California at Berkeley.?One course was “Introduction to Politics” taught by Paul Wellstone, then a newly minted PhD and young assistant professor. He was 27 years old.

On day 1 we students entered the classroom but could not figure out who the instructor was – until a short barrel-chested guy started talking. This was the former champion wrestler, standing probably no more than 5 feet, 5 inches.?For three times/week I sat in his class mesmerised by this dynamic, young, articulate teacher.?Studying with him convinced me to major in Political Science and later do a graduate degree in urban planning (at Berkeley, as it turned out).?If we are lucky, a few times in our lives our consciousness is raised, placing us on a whole new plane of understanding.?Studying with Paul Wellstone that summer was one of those times for me.?My term paper was on the topic of racism, poverty and politics in America, and Paul (as he insisted we all call him) gave me an A+.?I still remember his comment on the front: “Don, your paper was very moving to me. May I keep it? Paul Wellstone”.?I did, of course, sadly not keeping a copy.?(I can only hope that somehow it has made it into the collected papers of Paul Wellstone in some university archive, however I suspect not.)

But I have kept the memory of an inspiring and brilliant man, for whom the halls of academia were only a preliminary to a much larger stage – that of state and national politics. Paul Wellstone was true to his convictions, drawing from his Jewish roots to promote his progressive politics.?Like millions of others, I mourn his passing, but know that his teachings live on in many – who, like me – were touched by his example.

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I paid tribute to Wellstone’s influence on my career choices and commitment to social and economic justice in last month’s Institute of Community Directors Australia newsletter, Community Advocate , and in my speech at the 25th anniversary of the Reading Writing Hotline .

There is an important theme that runs through the legacy of Wellstone and Walz: the importance of educating, mentoring and guiding young people. There are thousands like Kayley Lyons and me – people who are lucky enough to experience a Walz or a Wellstone when we are ready for that inspiration.