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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1995)
The Clackamas Print Page 3 Wednesday, Feb. 1,1995 FEATURE Teaching pulls life’s work together for Cross V Computer science instructor finds teaching aspect in all of his career choices by Tina Guinn ers. I learned myself. I would Editor-in-Chief get so frustrated, but I would When Doug Cross'graduated learn. If someone came along and from theUnivCrsity of Oregon told me ‘ABC’ I would walk away with a bachelor’s degree in psy (from the lesson) and forget” For chology in 1976, the country’s this reason, Cross does his best to mindset was one of compassion, challenge students, even if that a feeling of “people helping means making them not like him. people,” he said. “Sometimes it’s (his purpose) Cross worked as a drug and to make students not like me. alcohol counselor, dealing with When I was in school, there were “the population most people two groups of instructors I learned didn’t want to work with.” But most from: the kind I liked and after he had been in the system would do anything for, and the for awhile, things began to kind I hated and had to do well to change. prove I could, I guess. Those Cross said the profession teachers who were in the middle, grew to be against his ethics. And I don’t even remember,” he said. in a roundabout way, that is how Cross believes that if a stu he happened into our family here dent walks away from his class at CCC as a computer science in not liking him, he has accom structor. plished something. Cross has been a teacher “in “If a student doesn’t like me an official position” for six years. and he continues to work, in spite “But every job I’ve had has had a of me, then I’ve moved them. teaching component to it,” he ‘We live in a microwave so Photo by Christi Snavely said. After he worked in treat ciety, where three minutes later, Doug Cross, computer science instructor, lends an unconventional look at teaching. ment centers, Cross tried counsel if you don’t like it, you toss it ing in agencies, but that didn’t away, whether it is people, rela work either. tionships, a job, an education. If “I didn’t do well in agencies. a ham. I enjoy the interaction. 1,000 pieces of glass. with me. you don’t like it, you have to tough They only wanted money,” he “Teaching is the natural way. The 100-year-old house that “I don’t like to be boxed in, it out sometimes,” he said. said. So, he went from ah agency to pull it all together,” he said. Cross resides in in Salem is an or pigeon-holed. When I find that Cross wants students to get setting into private practice. . But In some of the spare time he other source of recreation for him. I’m doing that I like to stir up their money’s worth while in he said he didn’t know what to has, Cross works as an actor in When he first purchased the the mix. school. When he was in school, charge his clients. So he let them Salem. But he said his current home, Cross had in mind to re “I don’t do nothing well. Cross demanded his money’s set up their own pay schedule. acting interest “came out of the model. However, now he is in the When I have nothing to do, I find worth. And as a result, he devel Cross said you can’t make blue.” process of reworking the inside. something to do,” Cross said. oped close friendships with some much money that way. So, it was Cross was involved in drama One project he worked on was to Cross admitted that some of his professors because he time once again for Cross to move as a child, but when he got into convert two large windows in his times he gets himself in trouble “stood out a little.” on.' high school, he was given the home into a stained glass scene. because there is not enough time ’ “I think when students can ’ “I worked excessively...many choice of participating in athlet Cross also finds time to play to get everything done. Butthen question themselves, authority, of the patients would die [in the ics or theater. He chose sports- his electronic keyboard, which he he exercises discipline. “Just like me, when they have the courage treatment centers]. I didn’t take football, wrestling. But he said occasionally hooks up to his com a student I have to be able to put to do that, then they’re making that personally, but there is an el that by the time he got into col puter and uses as a MIDI. stuff on hold,” he said. progress. When students sit and ement saying ‘could I have done lege, his athletic career was fin Cross prides himself on hav Amid all of the other activi fake their way through, it bothers something differently?’ ished due to injuries. So he fo ing different aspects to his life. ties that Cross is involved in and me. I want people to get their “It was a good time to change cused his energies on his studies “That way I don’t get stuck or be makes time for, teaching is per money’s worth,” he said. careers. I had done all I wanted and became very career-oriented. come stagnant,” he said. haps one of the most important. All in all, Cross feels that the to do. To keep on would have At one point, Cross was a Almost as an afterthought, “Teaching is a challenge. It students are the most important been redundant,” he said. triathlete. He trained for one year, Cross said that the computer is his is a challenge to keep students factor; they are the reason he is And change careers he did. then in the next two years, he hobby too. “That’s why my style awake,” he said. More seriously, here. Knowing that students have Cross moved from the psychology competed in seven triathalons, is upbeat and exciting,” he said. however, Cross sees his role in the applied the knowledge Cross has scene to the teaching field. He because it was “something I al While Cross enjoys working classroom as a vital one. shared with them makes a large became an instructor at Trend ways wanted to do.” ; on his computer, he said, “I am “My purpose is to make you impact on him. College in Salem, where he taught Cross kept in touch with the not obsessed with it Some people [the students] think. If that means “Having students come back for nearly five years. ater life by attending productions, have to be by their computers 24 challenging you, giving you an and validate what and how they But Trend went through but he was too focused on his ca hours a day. But I don’t,” he said. assignment that is not clear...this learned...I’m not conventional, some tough times, too, and Cross reer to audition. After his job The different facets of Cross’s is big people school and I respect but I’m working for you (the stu was laid off. It was during this ended at Trend College, and personality help him to make nec you as big people. dents), not my bosses. That’s time that he happened upon the Cross’s workload lightened, he essary, often almost immediate, “My job is to prepare you for what keeps me coming back, see position at Clackamas which had went for an audition, and got his transitions. ‘die real world’, not the academic ing a new group of students every been vacated by a computer sci first part. ‘I go from here (CCC) teach world,” Cross said. three months,” he said. ence instructor who had gone on He played a small role in. ing computers to PCC teaching That is the reason Cross gives “Keep the desire to learn. sabbatical. what he called “a bad melo psychology. It’s a very different “very nebulous assignments. If it Learning is an ongoing process Cross interviewed for the po drama,” but he said it was enough mindset. I can actually feel my frustrates you, all the better. Then that never stops. Always be curi sition in spring of ’94 and was to make him curious. self moving from computer to psy you will learn.” ous and keep your mind active. accepted. His first term, he taught “I only had a 10-minute part, chology mode. I love to keep up “No one taught me comput And have fun,” he said. only three CS 120 classes. but it was enough to say, ‘I can “They liked me and kept me do that’ ori. Now I’m teaching almost a “It got me hungry,” he said. full load or more,” he said. “I saw Cross has performed in two EXCELLENT PART-TIME OPPORTUNITY the opening at CCC and jumped plays since then: “The Nerd” and Roadway Package System is looking for at it I like it here, and for some “Noises Off.” This term, Cross ■ !Bj individuals to help load packages into trucks. reason they seem to like me,” he has already auditioned for, and re said. ceived, a lead role in “Inherit the APPLY IN PERSON AT; Currently, Cross teaches five Wihd.” • 6447 N. Cutter Circle classes at Clackamas, two CS 120 Cross also enjoys designing Mocks Landing Industrial Park classes and three CS 121 classes. and building stained glass win off Basin Ave.-Swan Island, He also teaches a Psychology 201 dows. For the past 15 years, Cross or call 650-7227 * Varied shifts * Work PT 3-5 hr. shifts class at Portland Community Col has been developing his technique *5days/week *Pays $8.00-$8.50/hr, lege. “It keeps me busy,” he said. and reproducing art pieces. Some * Be part of a team * .50 cent raise after 90 adys “Everything I’ve done has of his windows have received been geared toward teaching. awards at state fairs. Some of the * (includes $1.00/hr towards tuition) Counseling is just teaching; it is windows that Cross creates are so ROADWAY PACKAGE SYSTEMjJ stand-up teaching. Besides, I’m detailed that they contain over % GET PAID TO WORKOUT!! RPS
