Hancock Place Music Teacher to Retire After Nearly 20 Years

Gene Rauscher, a music teacher in the Hancock Place School District, is retiring after nearly 20 years at the district.

Rauscher has been teaching middle and high school students in the district since 1994. Subjects he has taught include band, choir, guitar, music appreciation and piano just to name a few. 

Patch asked Rauscher to reflect on his years as a music teacher. We also asked what he'll miss most and what he's looking forward to in his retirement. Here are his answers:

How long have you been teaching? I have 19 years with Hancock Place and taught for three years at Mehlville High School (1979-1982). I started at Fayette High School in Howard County (1974-1975) and also taught in DeKalb, MO, from 1975-1976. 

What will you miss the most about teaching? I will miss watching students grow into themselves. The cool thing about being a music teacher here is that I get students as sixth graders and get watch them grow for seven years.

What is the biggest change in education/teaching since you started? When I started in 1974 students were responsible for the acquisition and retention of knowledge, and they were held accountable. As oversight of public education has grown, teachers are held accountable for student achievement, and students show more interest in what will be on a test rather than showing interest in the actual subject matter or in the acquisition of knowledge. I have also seen a sad decrease in the value placed on Fine Arts Education in public schools across the United States, primarily because these are subjects which are too complex and teach students more stuff than can be reduced to questions on tests.

Do you have a favorite student/class that sticks with you? My background makes me a band director, but I will never forget the joy and intensity with which choir students approach singing. I will always see myself as a band director who should have left vocal music to the real experts in that field, but I will always treasure my time in the choir room despite the fact no music teacher should ever be required to split that allegiance. I have had wonderful band and choir students, too many to identify here as favorites.

What are you most looking forward to about retirement? Musicians never actually retire. Long after our knees no longer allow us to play softball... or walk up and down the stairs for that matter... we still can play, sing, and share our passion for art. I am only "retiring" from THIS classroom, but I will never stop teaching. I will spend more time with my four beautiful grand daughters however, and I might go fishing more often. 

Are you are current or former student of Mr. Rauscher? Wish him well or thank him for his service in the comments section below!