Mathematics was never the love of my life but I will say one thing: I was taught very well and it was by this lovely man who has died at his home* in France.
Mr McKie taught me Math in high school. That I got through at all was largely up to him (and Mrs Jeffries).

Is there such a thing as "good luck"?... because I certainly had "good luck" in the teachers I had at school. I graduated from Salmon Arm Secondary School in 1962 aged 18 years and then stayed on for a year of Senior Matric (which is first year university in British Columbia). In order to get accepted at the University of British Columbia School of Nursing in those days, I was required to have first year university Mathematics. (Yes, honestly! You wouldn't credit it nowadays but that is another subject!) Anyhow, I achieved the necessary qualification and graduated in 1967.

For example, one day he put up on the blackboard a pattern of numbers. I now recognize as Pascal's triangle:

At the end of his explanation, he turned to the class and beamed "Isn't that a thing of beauty?!" While I did not share his love of numbers, their patterns and relationships, I could see what he was getting at. It was only many years later I realized he instilled in me what might be called an appreciation of aesthetics.
Furthermore, in 2002 Iain and I (and Marie-Belle T.) visited him and his wife in France at their home. We had 2 wonderful days together and at that time I was able to articulate how his love of his subject made such a big impression on me (and also how grateful I was to have had him as a teacher)! The photo of him above was taken at that time.
I have been unable to find any obituary so far but see that his death is noted on UBC Lowering the Flag website for the passing of a member of the campus community here .
"MCKIE, Professor Doug Mckie, former Associate Dean, Education passed away in France on August 28, 2011. For more information, please contact the Faculty of Education."
* I am in touch with his wife.
I have been unable to find any obituary so far but see that his death is noted on UBC Lowering the Flag website for the passing of a member of the campus community here .
"MCKIE, Professor Doug Mckie, former Associate Dean, Education passed away in France on August 28, 2011. For more information, please contact the Faculty of Education."
* I am in touch with his wife.
No comments:
Post a Comment