Newnan resident, Dr. Charles Barron, sat in on an astronomy class in Newnan during the fall semester. The following are his comments about his experience as a 93-year-old student. Astronomy has been a long time love of his.
The old Newnan Hospital, 90 years old, has been beautifully restored as a university campus. Never in my wildest dreams would I have conceived of taking a class in astronomy in a room adjacent to operating rooms where I performed oral surgery for over 20 years. We as a community are deeply indebted to those responsible for the transformation of the hospital to a college campus.
The Astronomy class, taught by Dr. Ben Team, was a complete delight. Under no circumstances could I have competed with the bright and nimble minds of 20-year-old students armed with calculators, iPads, and cell phones. I knew my place, and I tried to be as inconspicuous as possible while enjoying it fully. The only problem I had was one I brought with me—a hearing disability. Even with great hearing aids, I missed part of the dialogue, which hindered my comprehension somewhat.
Professor Team, in his introductory remarks, set rules of behavior regarding questions and cell phones. His objective was to give a better understanding of each one’s place in the universe, and all done with a smile. The depth of his subject matter, to say the least, is huge. I think he did an outstanding job of teaching under difficult circumstances with his wife having emergency surgery from which she is still recovering.
It has been over a half century since I was in college; and, my, how things have changed. These students in their teens are much smarter than my generation and better prepared for the future. It was a real treat to be able to participate in this Astronomy class.
