Saturday, December 21, 2024
Mr. Wilder was one of my favorite teachers at Wagner High School, Clark Air Base, Philippines. He was my Chemistry teacher during my Junior year and my Advanced Placement Chemistry teacher my Senior year (1975-1977). In the beginning, I was intimidated by the subject, but Mr. Wilder was always available to help and eventually I became a Clinical Laboratory Scientist specializing in Microbiology retiring in 2010.
Thinking back to those chemistry classes with Mr. Wilder, what I remember most is not the basics of chemistry, it’s that in Chemistry class he taught us how to use the slide rule efficiently and that we initiated a science fair where each student had to choose a project and present it the public. In our AP Chemistry class the next year, however, we were given the task of coordinating the 2nd annual science fair for the upcoming basic Chemistry class. I was in charge of inviting the other schools (middle and elementary) on base to view and support it and one of my contacts, I believe, was Mrs. Wilder. In any case, the science fair exhibit was a huge success.. I graduated later that year so I don’t know if the science fairs continued or not, but I think it was a cool thing to do having the advanced students coordinating the basic chem’s exhibits.
To the Wilder Family, I want to express my deepest condolences and to let you know that Mr. Wilder had a significant impact on my life. God bless.
