The Crimson Aviator sat down with French teacher Mr. Robert Mohar, who is known for running many clubs and activities at De Pere High School.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, near Marquette, Michigan.
Q: What was your life like when you lived near Marquette?
A: My parents were college people, and we literally lived in the woods. But my experience in high school was good because half of our enrollment was at an air force base, so we had excellent diversity, excellent facilities, and we had money to do things, which was unusual for UP.
Q: What was your dream job before teaching?
A: When I was 23 years old, I wanted to play guitar and meet girls – not joking. ‘Hashtag–don’t take guitar lessons from a folk singer because you will meet no girls’. I knew from an early age that I can talk well and I can write well. So, when I went to college, I actually majored in public relations. And then, I discovered French and I was like, “That’s what I want to do.”
Q: How did you get interested in teaching French?
A: It was my last semester in college. I had a double major in public relations in French, but I was planning to do public relations. And my French teacher, who was from France said, “Hey, you have an opportunity to teach 3rd and 5th graders French. Just come up with a curriculum,” and I was like “Oh, OK, I’ll do it,” and I would get paid more. And then when I started, I’m like, “Holy cow, this is what I wanna do.”
Q: What is something you’re passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about kids becoming contributing members of society, I love playing guitar, I love to lift weights, and I love hanging out with my dog and my wife.
Q: What was school like when you were younger?
A: Again, I grew up in a very small town, so I went to and elementary school that was very tiny, went to a middle school that was quite big for the UP, and then when I went to high school, we had a lot of students and a lot of people, which was unusual for the UP. But I grew up with two brothers, two sisters. My mom was a speech mythologist, and my dad was an electrician. So, I had a good experience.
Q: What is something about you that would surprise anyone?
A: I am the third grade pushup, 50 yard dash, and softball throw champion of the entire UP.
Q: What is your favorite thing about French culture?
A: The food. When you go there and see how the people live, the language is beautiful, the food is very cool. Just France alone — it’s got mountains, it’s got fields, it’s got a coast across the Mediterranean, there’s so much there, and I really wish other people could experience it.
Q: How is traveling when going from the U.S. to France?
A: It’s actually not bad. It’s a long trip, but again, it’s always a new experience so for me, it’s kind of like a big deal.
Q: How did you learn guitar, and how long did it take for you to accomplish?
A: By the time I got to high school, I could play all the chords, and when I was in college, I took lessons from this old, grizzled, blues player who knew everything. He taught me, and when I moved to Green Bay, my buddies would get really interested in soloing, so they would play the chords, and then I would play solo on the top of them. So, that’s how I learned. And then, when I was 23, we got a band together and then played in different bands. It was fun.
Q: Who or what inspired you to play music?
A: I always liked the sound of it — mostly rock music. But, I had a cousin who played piano really well, which was not my life goal. But, then again, I just liked the coolness in playing guitar, so that’s what drew me to it.
Q: How did teaching change you as a person?
A: I was an unusual student, for I already had a job, and then I went back to school to become a teacher, so I knew what it was like to work construction. I knew what it was like to work in the program, so I had experience. But, the biggest change for me was finding out that sometimes school is really the safest place for some kids. And the other thing, which is being an “odd” student, and I graduated 20 years ago, is that you can have a profound effect on a student’s life. I’m not talking curriculum, I’m not talking French, I’m talking like, they see who you are, they see how kind you are, they say they won’t put up with crap. I’m still old school, I teach character here at De Pere high school, so I bumped heads with some kids that just don’t understand that there’s a right way and there’s a wrong way to do things. However, every day you can make a difference.
