Proust Interview with St. Davids School principal
The Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library board and staff are exploring the special place books, reading, storytelling and libraries hold in the hearts of our community members. To delve into the depths of this experience, we are turning to the insightful Proust Questionnaire, which offers a unique lens to examine the bond between readers and their connection to books, storytelling and libraries. If you would like to participate in the questionnaire series, please contact Cathy Simpson at the library; csimpson@notlpl. org or 905-468-2023. On a bright sunny summer day, I sat down with Carl Glauser in his principal’s office. He had completed an incredibly successful first year as principal at St. Davids and was delighted to be back in his local community after 14 years and four principalships elsewhere. He was relaxed and proud of his students (and staff) and their many accomplishments across academics, sports, recreation and citizenship — from robotics and chess clubs, to winning teams in soccer, volleyball and basketball. We spoke for an hour about his love of books, his childhood memories related to reading and libraries, and his commitment to literacy for all. Q: From where did your love of reading come? Carl Glauser: I was an avid reader from a very young age, with both my parents setting the example, and my grampa who lived outside Montreal was an amazing storyteller and brought the stories of Thornton Burgess books (The Adventures of Peter Rabbit, Bowser the Hound, Reddy Fox etc.) alive for me. As I grew older I read the whole series of the Hardy Boys books (and still have them somewhere) and this began my interest in mystery stories. I graduated by Grades 7/8 to Agatha Christie novels. Q: What are your memories related to the library from your childhood? Carl Glauser: When I was a child, my mother would take me to the NOTL library, when it was downstairs under the Court House. It was a big exciting deal to turn right at the bottom of the stairs and be able to choose from all the children’s books. Eventually the day came when I was old enough to turn left and allowed to select from the adult section. I can still remember the feelings of excitement, almost like going into a candy store with the anticipation and wonder of the stories to come. Q: What is your favourite book of all time? Carl Glauser: J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, which I originally read in childhood, remains as my favourite of all time. Even from 40 years ago I can recount the whole story. At the time, when I read it, I felt myself right in it as it was such a great adventure story. As a kid when I wasn’t playing sports, I would be reading, reading, reading. Even today, especially on vacation or in the summertime I am nervous to start a book as I can become lost in it and unable to tear myself away and put it down. Q: What kinds of books are you reading now? Carl Glauser: My summer reads include anything by Robert Ludlum or James Patterson but I also love biography and autobiographies. I still run, and play in a couple of hockey leagues and am an avid golfer so interested in the many golfing and hockey books that are available. I just finished Tiger and Phil: Golf’s Most Fascinating Rivalry by Bob Harig and I have read most of Lorne Rubenstein’s golf writings, including A Season in Dornoch, which I got from my father’s extensive golf library. I am also having trouble currently with my golf game, so am reading Ray Floyd’s From 60 Yards In, for tips. Q: Do you recommend books to family and friends? Carl Glauser: Yes, and I am impressed with how many of my adult male friends, in their busy lives, still read books. If I read a biography that might be relevant for a friend, I will pass along a recommendation. Q: What book should every kid read? Carl Glauser: The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier. It is the book I will pull out when I go into a classroom to read to the kids. It is about a boy growing up and very badly wanting a Montreal Canadiens Hockey sweater (my favourite team). His mom orders him one from the Eaton’s catalogue and what arrives? A Toronto Maple Leaf sweater! It is very Canadian and very fun. Q: Are there any professional reads that have helped to shape you? Carl Glauser: Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. As a teacher and principal, I have been exposed to lots of workshops and readings on leadership, but this is the one that has stuck with me and still impacts how I carry out my work. Q: Do you have a favourite quote or two? Carl Glauser: There are many, but going back to Thornton Burgess books, I remember “Luck just doesn’t happen . . . luck come from hard work and perseverance,” and then of course, from the Bible, “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.” Q: We hear concerns about kids and their reading habits — what are you seeing? Carl Glauser: When I go into a classroom these days, I still see two or three students who are ‘reading too much’ and have to be reminded to put their books away. We also still see lots of books taken out of our school library and although I do worry about out of school time use of screens, TV, tablets and digital games displacing sports and reading, our local school literacy rates are strong. Carl Glauser is a passionate educator and an avid reader who discovered the magic of books early in life, coming from a family of storytellers and readers. His athletic interests in many sports, including golfing and hockey, have influenced his reading and special his interest in biography. He is anxious to continue to build a literate-friendly school with strong ties to the local library in NOTL, for all his students.
