Courtrooms or Classrooms?

By: Carissa Cumings

Mr. Daniel Borresen, of all teachers understands that the junior year for a McNary Celtic is a challenging one. The work load is heavy and time is short; now more than ever with the new bell schedule.
This year is Borresen’s twenty third year at McNary. Borresen has taught many subjects including health, honors sophomore English, and honors American literature. McNary is the only school that he has taught at.
He Originally wanted to become a lawyer, he attended Willamette University for two and a half years until he realized his true calling was in teaching. “I realized that I enjoyed working with young people more than I enjoyed working with adults.” said Borresen. He transferred to Western Oregon University to become a teacher. While in college; Borresen was an arts and crafts teacher for the Boys and Girls Club.
Even though Borresen is considered by most to be a difficult teacher, his students still have a great deal of respect for him. Reece Braatz, a junior said “I like that he is bold and he cares about his students. He wants his students to be successful.” Another thing that Braatz admires about Borresen is that he takes the time out of day for his students and will work with them until they understand the assignment. “He assigns a lot of reading, but that is it. You just have to keep up on it.” said Braatz as he discussed the amount of work that Borresen assigns.
“I look at [teaching] as a way to pay back all of the teachers and coaches who helped me,” said Borresen. “I’ve always shown an aptitude for literature and writing. In my mind the most important skills are to read and write. My fifth grade teacher told me I should be an English teacher someday.” Borresen says that the ability to read literature allows students to learn from others while examining their own lives. “My advice to [students] who aren’t in my class,” he says, “is to read, read, read, to write, write, write, and live, live, live with all their heart and soul.”