Mr. Kirsch's Page

Students are encouraged to come in for additional assistance, shop, or computer lab time whenever they feel they need it.  My prep period, lunch, before school, and after school are all great times.  I strongly suggest that you let me know ahead of time when you are coming in.  For instance, in the mornings before 7 AM, I would need to know to open a door for you.  Occasionally I have meetings and other commitments.  Checking with me first avoids the situation in which a student comes and I am unavailable.  Coming unannounced usually is not a problem.  If I don't have a conflict, I will help you.  I want to insure that I am available for you whenever you need assistance.  That said, students must be understanding if they do come unannounced and I am unavailable to assist.  Should this occur, I will work with you to identify an alternative time for you to receive help.

This is my 23rd year teaching.  All my teaching experience has occurred here at CVHS.  I am also a licensed mechanical engineer in the state of Oregon and was in industry for eight years prior to teaching (five years with International Paper Co. at the Gardiner Mill near Reedsport, and three years with Willamette Industries at the Albany Paper Mill in Albany, Oregon.  I hold teaching endorsements in Physics, Chemistry, Physical Science, Engineering Technology (CTE), and Advanced Math.  In my time here at CV, I have taught a variety of classes:  Physics, AP Physics, Chemistry, Physical Science and Technology, Foundations of Science, Electronics, Introduction to Engineering, Solid Modeling, Architecture, Woodworking, Advanced Woodworking, Intro to Design with Engineering and Art (IDEA), Science & Technology with Engineering, Architecture, and Micro-Controllers (STEAM), and Designing, Researching, & Engineering Articles for Market (DREAM).

Fundamentally, my teaching philosophy is this:  I believe we learn things by doing, and by making mistakes.  In fact, I would go so far as to argue that we MUST make a mistake before truly learn anything.  Mistakes, if they aren't THE learning process, are certainly key to the learning process.  I also believe, as much as possible, that learning must be real.  Engagement is best accomplished by making learning real and authentic.  If learning activities have an impact beyond the classroom, if students are tasked with making a physical item that they themselves have designed, the ultimate outcome of the learning process ends up going beyond the growth of the learner and, ideally, impacts the real world in a meaningful way.  It is not my job to primarily disseminate information.  Today, anything anyone might want to know can be found using a cell phone.  Rather, my role as a teacher in attempting to prepare students for our current world is to make students thinkers, builders, and problem-solvers.  Nearly everything you see within my classroom is governed by this approach.

Students -- you can make numerous mistakes in my classes and still find success.  That being said, mistakes should be the outcome of genuine effort, of trying your best.  If you do this, you will learn.  If, instead, you fail to put forth effort, if you rush things, if you ignore details, if you are inclined to take short cuts, if you simply want to get things done with no attention paid to quality, you may struggle.  This should be no surprise -- it is fundamental to life itself.  The best predictor as to the grade a student earns within my classes is a student's effort level, and the willingness to improve on their mistakes.  My message here is simple -- do not fear making mistakes.  Rather, embrace them as you make them.  Freeing yourself of the fear of making mistakes allows you to stop being hesitant about your learning, and to engage fully in the learning process.    

When not at school, I enjoy the outdoors, running, biking, hiking, backpacking, kayaking, building things (I have designed and built a house for instance), and spending time with my family.  Outdoor photography is probably the only thing that can be considered a true hobby.  While teaching and other commitments have prevented more time investment, I have finally started to post some of my photographs of our beautiful natural world online.  If interested in seeing those beautiful places in our world that have so inspire me, visit the link below.

rocklight.smugmug.com/