Preserving Time: A Math Teacher’s Passion for Vintage Clocks
Step inside Victor Vasquez’s classroom, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by various vintage and modern clocks, each with its unique story. But for Vasquez, it's not just about keeping track of the hours and minutes; it's about infusing the magic of clockwork into the very essence of education. A seasoned Science teacher, Victor Vasquez delves deeper into his fascination with these timeless artifacts and their role in his classroom.
Vasquez’s journey into the world of vintage clocks started unexpectedly, sparked by a thoughtful gift from his sister during high school. "When I was in High School, my sister was stationed in Germany, and she brought me back a Black Forest Cuckoo Clock,” Vasquez reminisces. “I loved the rhythmic ticking sounds and I found that it relaxed me and allowed me to focus on the things I was doing.”
This initial fascination grew into a full-fledged hobby. “After that, I would look for German clocks working or not at garage sales, flea markets, and estate sales,” he explains. “I would take them apart, and 90% of the time, they just needed a good cleaning.”
One can almost hear the laughter tinged with a hint of nostalgia as Vasquez recounts the tale of his first foray into clock restoration. “A few years back, I was at an estate sale and scored the deal of a lifetime on a $250 flying pendulum mantel clock for $20,” he recalls. “The clock was in great shape, and I was pretty sure I could get it running.”
However, fate had other plans in store for him that day. “When I was walking back to my car with a smile from ear to ear, I took a misstep and CRASH! Pieces of wood and metal gears went flying everywhere,” Vasquez laments. “Needless to say, I was not able to put it back together again, and I’m still looking for another clock just like it.”
For Vasquez, introducing his beloved clock collection into the classroom was driven by a desire to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment. “I started a few years back with a couple of unique pendulum wall clocks, just to get the ticking sound to fill my room, to create a rhythmic classroom,” he explains. “In physics, we study periods and frequencies. The kids love going around the room using timers to calculate the frequencies and periods of the pendulum clocks in my room.”
Vasquez’s enthusiasm is palpable as he describes his students’ reaction to the vintage clocks adorning his classroom walls. “Most of the students love coming into my room, and they have their favorite clocks,” he shares. “Not all the clocks are digital or analog; some are binary, and a couple require basic math skills to tell time. They love learning how to use them and teaching other kids when they don’t understand how to tell time.”
Vasquez’s teaching philosophy revolves around kinetic learning, and his classroom reflects this ethos. “I am a very kinetic teacher and always on the move in my classroom,” he explains. “Having these clocks around my room helps me set a precedence that TIME is valuable in my room, and there are plenty of reminders to let them know.”
Delving into the realm of scientific concepts, Vasquez highlights the versatility of vintage clocks as educational tools. “Scientific concepts include frequency, period, force of gravity, harmonic motion, using math concepts, learning to tell time with analog and binary methods are a few of the concepts using clocks,” he elaborates. “The best lesson is when the students walk around with timers solving for frequencies of the pendulums.”
Drawing parallels between his twin passions of clock restoration and teaching, Vasquez elucidates his approach to curriculum development. “When I am preparing for a new unit, it’s like starting a restoration,” he muses. “I first find out what level of background information is needed for the new unit, just like me figuring out if I have all the parts to begin restoration.”
Vasquez asserts that passion is the key ingredient to successfully integrating unconventional teaching tools into the classroom. “My advice would be to show your passion for whatever it is you want to use,” he advises. My kids see my passion for my clocks, and it begins to rub off on them. Some students take ownership and care of the clocks. They care for them, ensure they are wound up, and always ticking.”