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hoto by Jeff Hannig/The Advocate
At age 18, Colin Eaton will be spending most of his summer training for the Olympic Trials.
Retiring instructor to leave- and is taking his Ted bucks with him
The Advocate
After 30 years of handing out "In Ted We Trust Bucks," and trading them for Snickers bars in his economics classes, Ted Scheinman is retiring from MHCC.
Before he came to MHCC, Scheinman worked for the governor in Maryland and a friend asked him a question, "what would you do if I told you that you had six months to live…a year… a few years?"
With a few years to his name, Scheinman said he would move back to Oregon and teach economics again, but not before he enjoyed some of Maryland's frozen yogurt, another simple event which would change his future.
He was born in Peoria, Ill., and completed his undergraduate degree in economics at Washington University in St. Louis and his graduate degree in economics at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He taught for a year in West Virginia, and at Lewis and Clark College for two years before working for the governor in Maryland. He also ran a profitable frozen yogurt shop for three years in downtown Portland.
While running Piper's Yogurt Parlor, Scheinman said he had expressed his interest in working for MHCC. Through careful networking, he was contacted by his predecessor who let him know the job was available if he wanted it. Soon after, Scheinman was hired to teach part-time. He continued running Piper's Parlor, but eventually sold it and started to teach full-time.
"I had no syllabus the first day at MHCC; I had no direction," explains Scheinman, who said his goals for teaching economics are to "increase students economic literacy and make good life decisions so they can follow their dreams."
"It's not all about money. I like to teach ideas like 'opportunity cost,' what a student gives up in exchange for something else," said Scheinman. He allows students to keep their phones on in class, "but I charge them." Charging a student $1 for a phone call is a way Scheinman said he teaches students the idea of external cost, or the effects their actions have on the world around them. The money is used for a pizza party at the end of the term said Scheinman.
For someone who said his class isn't all about dollars and cents, he makes good use of currency. With his charges for phone use and the In Ted We Trust Bucks he passes out – one might think he was obsessed with money. He is not though; actually it's quite the opposite.
"I've always wanted to be in a position where I had to stay at the job because I wanted to be there – not because I had to," Scheinman said. "I've never taken a job only for the money." Although he does wish to be compensated for his work, he said teaching has been rewarding in itself.
"I wake up every morning and can't wait to get in and teach a class," he said, adding that he would rather come in and work than stay home and be sick.
"It's exciting to see the light go on for students or to see them go on to be successful- it's a thrill," he said.
Such is his dedication to teaching that Scheinman said he "hasn't really given much thought to what I'll do when I retire – I haven't had time to."
"I've thought about teaching overseas somewhere, maybe China or Norway. I'm sure new horizons will come up. It has been a struggle whether to leave or not," said Scheinman, who also said it was a possibility that he would come back as a part-time instructor.
There are, however, some things Scheinman looks forward to in retired life.
"I'm looking forward to not dealing with the politics and bureaucratic business of the school," said Scheinman.
Naomi Abrahams, MHCC sociology instructor and adviser, said "in staff meetings he (Scheinman) was able to cut to the chase in order to meet the needs of the students and has a real care for students."
Scheinman has seen 21 deans come and go and even was one for two weeks, "administration is not my interest; teaching is. I enjoy positive connections with people and helping people to learn."
When he was asked to elaborate on the changes he has seen through his years at MHCC; or if there was a golden age for instructors at MHCC, he answered, "there hasn't been a time for pay increases- it's just the little things were there." "Recently," he said, "I was getting upset at the wrong things."
Scheinman said, "I was concerned with what kind of institution that would place a classroom in the Planetarium – it just showed a lack of appreciation of education," said Scheinman. "I'm amazed at how other countries have gotten it (a priority for education) and we (America) haven't. Education just isn't a high priority right now."
But for Scheinman, who does place a priority on education, said retirement will be difficult. "It'll be hard not to come to school everyday – I'll miss the daily connection with students," said Scheinman.
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