Education

Ed Martin: Great Influence at St. Roch’s School

By Peter Watkins, Tom Christopher

December 1977

From the St. Roch’s student journalism page in The Paper, December 1977. Original student wording and bylines are preserved; Marj Weir’s accompanying introduction explains the classroom project.

Mr. Edward Martin is one of St. Roch’s most important teachers because he is the eighth grade teacher. This is a crucial year for most students because it is the jump between grade school and high school. He does emphasize the ability to reason and understand, but believes there is no special way to prepare students for high school.

Ed Martin has been a member of St. Roch’s faculty since 1973. Since then, he has taught 388 students the language arts and is currently teaching mathematics.

Ed Martin decided to become a teacher while he was an accountant. He moved to Alaska in 1969 where he taught at St. Mary’s grade school until 1972. He then moved to St. Louis, and taught at University City high school as a volunteer in a reading lab in which he taught 7th, 8th and 9th grades.

He has a master’s degree in language arts and did some work in accounting.

Sister Leo Ann Bub, the current principal at St. Roch’s, thinks very highly of him. “He is very generous in giving extra time and attention to his students. St. Roch’s is very fortunate to have such a teacher on its staff.”

Ed Martin thinks St. Roch’s is exciting and good. He likes teaching at a Catholic school because he believes that there is more communication between parent, teacher, and student.

He spends his summers traveling and has been to many countries throughout the world including the Holy Land and most European countries. Besides traveling, he also likes to play bridge and enjoys the symphony and the theatre. He has many friends, some of whom are scattered across he United States.

“I have taught six eighth grade classes and I hope to teach many more.”