John Blakeman, Biology Teacher and Birthplace Trustee
John Blakeman, who has served on the board for years, was recently
featured in the news
for his work in securing a grant from the EPA.
John explains his personal connection to the birthplace:
It is my distinct honor to serve on the Board at the Edison Birthplace. In the fourth grade, my teacher, Mrs. Stuckey, took our class 40 miles to Milan, to the Birthplace. That particular trip --- as exactly envisioned by the founders --- prompted me to become a science person.
My mother gave two quarters to spend at the museum, and I bought the biographical comic book of Tom's life. At home, I read it repeatedly. I could identify with everything presented. I, too, was not a very good student. I was something of a "slow learner." My mind was often outside of the classroom, in the fields and forests that I love.
I took to heart all that I learned from Edison. Work hard; persist, learn from mistakes; see a bigger, broader, future vision. Examine and take diverse sources of information.
All of that, first encountered at the Birthplace, has guided my professional careers, both as a biology teacher (conveying to my students those same Edison doctrines), and as a field biologist using native vegetation to solve water quality problems.
My thanks to everyone associated with the Edison Birthplace. Truly special.
