2008
Hartmann takes year to dedicate himself to fatherhood
u HiLLl ClAVARELLO & CHRIS E r BIN
Staff Reporters
Jim Hartmann, science
teacher currently on leave, is
a full time father, student and
rabbit rescuer. He is spending
this school year with his
eight-month-old boy, Jamie
Zelig, completing his Master's
Degree in teaching at Lewis &
Clark College and operating
his at-home charity, the
Oregon House Rabbit Charity.
But even with his hectic
schedule, Hartmann is happy
with in his decision.
"It was a hard decision to
stay home—I went through ■
a grieving process. But my
wife and I always figured that
the first years [of Jamie's life]
were going to be the most
important. With nannies and
daycares, we didn't feel that
we would be able to fully
experience raising our child,"
Hartmann said.
So what does the typical
day in the Hartmann
household consist of? The day
begins with an early wake up
call, diaper changing, and his
wife, Esther, leaving for work.
The day goes on to involve
grandparents, a ride to his
wife's work (she's a teacher
at Tualatin High School) and
night school. Oh, and don't
forget the rabbits.
"We have 80 rabbits at the
moment. A month ago we had
twice as many," Hartmann
neutered, bring them back to
health and find them homes.
"Please, please, please do
NOT buy baby rabbits at
Easter," Hartmann said.
Though he's not teaching, it
hasn't been far from his mind
these past eight months.
"I've been doing a lot of
said. The charity was launched
in 1990 after several hundred
domestic abandoned rabbits
were left on a golf course in
east Portland. Hartmann and
his wife, along with several
other adults and students,
founded a group to round
them up have them spayed or
Jim Hartmann, science teacher, plays with
his son, Jamie Zelig, on a field trip with the
Ecology Field Trip class last month. Hartmann
will return to WLHS next year, when his wife,
Esther, will take a year's leave of absence to
spend with Jamie.
.
Photos by Malia C h o n g
thinking; about what I could
do differently and how my
teaching can evolve with my
personal life. Also, about time
and how it passes—maybe
I'm thinking too much,"
Hartmann said. And with all
this thinking, Hartmann has
been able to reflect on his life
in and outside of school. .
"The time I spend with
Jamie gives me the sense that
I am extremely important to
one person's life. [Parenting]
is similar [to teaching] in that
way—in both I get a feeling
of a larger impact. I'm eager
to connect with students
about important things [when
I return], like our future
and how we can impact it,"
Hartmann said.
Hartmann's life now is all
about learning.
"I'm learning all the time,
with school and with Jamie.
I've just recently learned
about early child speech
development in a language
class—everything connects
and comes
in handy," .
Hartmann said.
Occasionally
students get
a glimpse of
Hartmann on
field trips. He
chaperoned
on the recent
geology class
caving field
trips, as well as the Ecology
Field Study class duck feeding
adventure.
"When I bring Jamie on
field trips, we both get a lot of
intellectual/social stimulation
by interacting with all of you
guys and with the natural
world. There's something
about being out in the field
with young adults; all that
energy, all that freshness of
perspective, all that hope
and possibility. It is really
wonderful to experience,"
Hartmann said.
Hartmann plans to return
next year to resume teaching
AP Enviromental Science and
Geology classes while his wife
takes a year off to be at home
with Jamie. Although he is
excited to return to teaching,
he regards his time off as an
opportunity in life that cannot
be replaced. He acknowledges
he has missed his time away
from school, however the
advantages of being an at-
home dad are evident.
"I've come to realize that
life now is much easier than
it was when I was teaching. I
sleep more and my life now
is more laid back," Hartmann
said. "I'm worried I'm going
soft. Returning at this point is
like an athlete not being fully
prepared for the upcoming
season. The routine will be
different from this year, that's
for sure."
Crafty students committing to passion for knitting
a HlLLi ClAVARELLO______________
Staff Reporter
Something crafty is going
on. Knitting is the new fad
both in and outside of school.
Whether they are trying to
save money in the present
department or making the
community warmer, knitting
has woven its way into
students' lives.
Diane Gauthier and Lynn
Pass, art teachers, are the
brains behind the Fiber Arts
class. Gauthier, who teaches
Fiber Arts, sees knitting as
more than just handwork.
"I incorporate the elements
and principles of art into
the assignments, because I
believe these handwork skills
are more than 'crafty' skills,
they are a medium for artistic
expression," Gauthier said.
Knitting has become
fashionable, not just
something your grandma does
to pass the time. It has become
a new form of self-expression.
Students are learning all
different techniques, from free
hand to purling, and are using
„■ ^ ^ th em to make unique designs.
"[I like to make] hats and
scarfs. I like to experiment
teaches children age six to 13
how to knit at Lake Oswego's
Tangle Knitting Studio. She
grew up around knitting, her
mother is a knitwear designer
who taught her how to knit at
the age of five.
"I remember trying to teach
my friends how to knit in
middle school and them being
not interested—but I now find
myself answering questions
from the very same friends,"
Eichenlaub said.
in making new things with
different patterns," Aubree
White, senior, said.
Drew Bardana, senior, uses
knitting to open up his already
artistic outlook on life.
"I do [enjoy knitting]
because I like to try different
forms of art; when I started
knitting I got all these people
to do it too—from my mom
to co-workers. It's a knitting
epidemic," Bardana said.
Laine Eichenlaub, junior,
y: «.I... ,.
a 'i.
Eichenlaub also sees a new
"younger vibe from college-
age kids" regarding knitting.
Her main reason behind that is
the tangibility of it.
"It's a new art form that
results in a tangible piece
of art—something you can
design for yourself and
accomplish by yourself too,"
Eichenlaub said.
Knitting can also be a
way to contribute to the
community. Avery Breyne-
Cartwright and Sydney
MacNaughton, sophomores,
knit for the homeless by
contributing to CitiTeam
Ministries, located in
downtown Portland. They
started knitting over the
summer, and then realized
that their newfound talent was
multifaceted.
"I donate my knitting
because I like to feel like I have
a bigger impact on the world,"
MacNaughton said.
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