Thanks, Mr. K

As we near the end of Public Schools Week Feb. 26-March 1, I’m remembering one of my favorite Duluth East High School teachers — Mr. Kinunen (trying to do the best with spelling of the latter from memory).

Mr. K (just an abbreviation, not what we called him) taught Middle East studies. He believed — and still does if he is still alive — that the Middle East was the most important and fascinating area of the world.

He definitely imparted that to his students. We learned everything from the nomadic history of the people who lived there to the modern day results of oil money in the Middle East to the impacts of Israel and its people.

It was also one of the few classes where current events were discussed. Mr. K tried hard to remove himself from political discussions and instead focused on a historical prism through which to discuss Middle East events.

Back then, many students I knew were stridently liberal (including myself). It was in the atmosphere. We grew up in the waning days of Hubert Humphrey and learned the Minnesota traditions of the Democrat Farmer Labor Party and believed in public education. Minnesota media covered many of the Democrat politicians like they were demi-gods.

Our student body actually went through a mock presidential election and nominated John Anderson and Pat Lucey for president and vice president in 1980. If you want to know the passion for a third party candidacy or why H. Ross Perot was such a popular choice in the Bush-Clinton election in 1992, that’s the genesis.

Many look back and see the 1980s as a decade of excess, but Mr. K wanted us to know the historical context of the Middle East all the way up to the present day.?

Although I’m sure Mr. K was hopeful for peace when President Carter negotiated an agreement between Israel, Egypt and the Palestine Liberation Organization, I’m sure as a child of the 1960s he was skeptical the peace would last.?

I do not think he would be surprised by the current status of Israelis and Hamas Palestinians today because our class would infrequently discuss solutions. How do you discuss peace and boundaries with nomadic people who are accustomed to settling where they want and didn’t pay attention to boundaries until they were colonized by the British 200 years ago?

If high school students received intensive Middle East instruction, it would buffer the pro-Palestinian feeling that many college students have today. A true understanding of a region comes from prolonged education and exposure to its people, not blind protests after listening to radical professors.?

During my academic career, I never thanked my teachers enough. Maybe this makes up for that a little.

If they are still teaching and you can stop by their school, stop by and thank them (and it doesn’t have to be during Public Schools Week).

Better yet, volunteer in your kids’ and grandkids’ schools. They may feign embarrassment, but they will like it.?

Get to know the kids, teachers, administrators and support staff as human beings. That’s all the gift they need during Public Schools Week.?

The author, a Class of 1982 graduate of Duluth East High School, is owner and Chief Innovation Officer at 608 Beacon Enterprises LLC. He retired from the newspaper business after 33-plus years as managing editor of the Sun Prairie Star in 2023.