Earlier this month, a York Catholic science teacher had his last day of school in 44 years.
Sam Spiese — who graduated from York Catholic in 1964 and returned four years later to teach — is retiring after teaching generations of students in the same school he attended.
© 2012 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Catholic science teacher Sam Spiese reviews a graded final exam with junior Katie Deats on the last day of school on Friday, June 1, 2012.
As a former prep school student, I really enjoyed spending time with Spiese in his last few hours as a teacher. High school wasn’t that long ago for me, but being back in the halls of a private school populated with uniforms, antiquated desks and teacher-student relationships that are more akin to friendships really brought me back.
My editor chose this photo, among two others, to run:
© 2012 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Catholic science teacher Sam Spiese takes a moment in his empty homeroom classroom, which his homeroom students decorated in celebration of his upcoming retirement, on the last day of school on Friday, June 1, 2012.
…but I also like this one, which is similarly framed:
© 2012 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Catholic science teacher Sam Spiese collects textbooks from his junior homeroom class at the end of the last day of school on Friday, June 1, 2012. After 44 years of teaching and serving in various leadership roles, Sam Spiese is retiring from York Catholic. Spiese, who graduated from York Catholic in 1964, said, “I keep getting old; they (the students) stay the same age. That’s the problem.”
Which would you choose, and why?
Words and Light 
Very moving to see people like your science teacher comes to a retirement age. Very consoling for former students of your school especially in his class to be with him for the last time. may God bless you in your retirement age. From Peter Christopher of New Britain island, Papua New Guinea, Western Pacific Ocean