On the Road to Damascus

About the Book

Doce ut discus, we learn by teaching. This is the motto of many an inspired teacher, but what, exactly, is learned? The subject at hand, yes, but even more, an insight into the heart of life.

About the Author

Dr. Patrick Dougherty grew up in rural Michigan, in a small community, attending a peaceful set of schools surrounded by the same companions from nursery through high school. He attended college in Oregon and Austria, graduating with a BA in History. After college he decided to go to graduate school and attended Northern Arizona University. it was there that he decided on his life's work of education. Teaching some college classes and working with high school students through the bureau of Indian Affairs, he became convinced that teaching was his calling. He completed a teaching license program after finishing his MA in Modern American History. Wanting to work with at-risk students, Pat opted for a tour of duty at a large school in south Phoenix, Arizona. His typical class consisted of students from six or seven ethnic backgrounds with a host of first languages other than English. The school population was largely Hispanic and African American, with large minorities of Asian and Native American students. The vast majority of the students were what was classically termed, "at-risk." After ten years, two more Master's degrees, a Doctorate in education, two children, and a growing desire to have his children exposed to his wife's culture, Dr. Dougherty left Phoenix and took up a new career as a professor of English at a university in Japan. He resides in Himeji, Japan, living in an old section of the city, within view of its ancient samurai castle. Pat, when asked about his teaching experiences, always cites his time in Phoenix as the crucible in which his talents were fired and tempered. "Those were tough, beautiful, and fulfilling years," he says. "You couldn't just get by in that situation, you had to grasp these kids' attention, steal their thoughts away from the chaos that so many of them had to deal with in their personal lives. You learned to be an actor, steward, communicator. If you could maintain your sanity, the environment was thrilling in a way that extreme sports cannot duplicate," explained Pat.