A change in the usual students he teaches compared to prior years is something that Mr. Morehouse, an English teacher in room 505, said is different this year.
“This year, I’m teaching sophomores,” said Mr. Morehouse. “Last year and the year before [were] seniors.”
The difference between the two is mainly their attitudes, he said. “I’ve felt like this year, I’ve had a little more backtalk by students, and I’ve seen a little less responsibility taken by the students for their actions,” Mr. Morehouse said.
Mr. Morehouse said after graduating from William Henry Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Indiana, the city he was born in, he attended Purdue University, pursuing a major in advertising and a minor in English.
Before deciding to become a teacher, he said, “I wanted to write and make my own commercials and then be able to film the commercials.” Later, he said he changed his mind, because “With advertising, you’re convincing someone they need something that you don’t really need. So, there’s a part of me where it felt like I was lying and manipulating, and I don’t want to be that person.”
Instead, he said that he became a teacher using his minor in English, which he got because of his love for reading.
Although teaching is barely enough to pay the bills, he said, “When you go to teaching, it’s got to be more of a purpose and passion than money… You know as a teacher it’s not going to be a hundreds of thousands a year job, but it has rewards that are worth it more than money. Intrinsic values.”
He said he then decided to teach at Inlet Grove because no other school was as good as Inlet. Of all the places he has taught, “…Inlet has the best students when it comes to being respectful and being open…” He also likes the bosses here; “believe it or not, they are supportive.”
Mr. Morehouse said, “The programs Inlet has, I think they’re excellent for being more career-driven, giving you what you need to succeed… What I’ve noticed with the college scholarships and help with getting into college and getting it paid for is wonderful here… The students here are very lucky to have that opportunity.”
Mr. Morehouse said what inspires him the most are students trying their hardest to gain success.
The hard part of the job, he said, is disciplining students if they misbehave since he doesn’t want to upset anyone. “That’s not what I’m here for”, said Mr. Morehouse
He said the thing he enjoys the most here at Inlet is meeting new students and their different personalities and seeing those students succeed.
If Mr. Morehouse could change anything about the Inlet, he said he would like “More electives geared towards future possible occupations would be beneficial to students. These items could be classes like music, social influencing, gaming, clothing design, and makeup/hair nails.” he also said that he likes the lunches Chef Hall and his culinary students occasionally make for the teachers.
