MUSEUM CLOSED: Dunton settles into retirement
By Jack Bish
November 22, 2017
By Jack Bish
November 22, 2017
On the first day of school during my freshman year, I can vividly remember walking down H-Hall, and looking to my right and noticing a classroom that was covered from top to bottom with posters, old newspapers, and other memorabilia. It was the craziest room I had ever seen, and others would probably agree.
When I was enrolled in his tenth grade honors world history class the next year, I learned that the room belonged to Mr. Dunton. His lectures were powerful and he had a personal touch that made it impossible to lose concentration. Not only was he a great teacher, but a lot of students were very close to him personally. Before school and between periods, multiple students could be spotted in his room just carrying on a casual conversation. Unfortunately, after teaching at Hampton for 30 years, Mr. Dunton retired this spring.
I was able to sit down with him on September, 29th for an interview.
Mr. Dunton attended La Roche College to earn his undergraduate degree, then later went to Duquesne to receive his Masters Degrees in history and education. From there he would fill in for teachers at North Allegheny and Shaler who were on sabbatical leaves. He did this for five years before taking a position at Hampton, where he would teach AP European History, World History, Honors World History, and World Cultures.
He spent a lot of his free time going to flea markets where he would purchase tons of historical items that would coincide with his lessons. All of his stuff, he said, “Some of it was sold. Some ended up in my ‘hall of fame,’ such as the pictures of my grandfather who was a World War II veteran. Others are still in boxes in my living room being sorted.”
Now that he is retired, he spends his free time gardening, spending time with his family, and walking his dog. And, yes, he still frequents flea markets quite often. “Oh, yeah that's the thousand dollar question. I'm now able to spend much more time (at the flea markets), but not necessarily more money as I'm not buying for a class room.”
“I miss getting excited about the lessons I was giving that day, or the jokes that I'd tell nine times a day like, ‘don't be Stalin, get Russian.’” He also said he misses coming to school and hanging out with the other teachers as well as students.
We then discussed some of his favorite memories. They included graduation and playing The Voice of God in the school musical, Spamalot, two years ago. “Another great memory was Mr. Franklin’s speech (for the actors) before the musical began. I'm not even sure if I was even supposed to be there, but I sat in and listened anyway. It was like he reached into your chest and ripped out your heart. It was one of the most powerful speeches I had ever heard.”
It is without a doubt that Mr. Dunton will go down as one of Hampton’s most legendary teachers. He was a great teacher as well as a great man. He is missed by many, but the Hamptonian staff wishes him a wonderful retirement.
When I was enrolled in his tenth grade honors world history class the next year, I learned that the room belonged to Mr. Dunton. His lectures were powerful and he had a personal touch that made it impossible to lose concentration. Not only was he a great teacher, but a lot of students were very close to him personally. Before school and between periods, multiple students could be spotted in his room just carrying on a casual conversation. Unfortunately, after teaching at Hampton for 30 years, Mr. Dunton retired this spring.
I was able to sit down with him on September, 29th for an interview.
Mr. Dunton attended La Roche College to earn his undergraduate degree, then later went to Duquesne to receive his Masters Degrees in history and education. From there he would fill in for teachers at North Allegheny and Shaler who were on sabbatical leaves. He did this for five years before taking a position at Hampton, where he would teach AP European History, World History, Honors World History, and World Cultures.
He spent a lot of his free time going to flea markets where he would purchase tons of historical items that would coincide with his lessons. All of his stuff, he said, “Some of it was sold. Some ended up in my ‘hall of fame,’ such as the pictures of my grandfather who was a World War II veteran. Others are still in boxes in my living room being sorted.”
Now that he is retired, he spends his free time gardening, spending time with his family, and walking his dog. And, yes, he still frequents flea markets quite often. “Oh, yeah that's the thousand dollar question. I'm now able to spend much more time (at the flea markets), but not necessarily more money as I'm not buying for a class room.”
“I miss getting excited about the lessons I was giving that day, or the jokes that I'd tell nine times a day like, ‘don't be Stalin, get Russian.’” He also said he misses coming to school and hanging out with the other teachers as well as students.
We then discussed some of his favorite memories. They included graduation and playing The Voice of God in the school musical, Spamalot, two years ago. “Another great memory was Mr. Franklin’s speech (for the actors) before the musical began. I'm not even sure if I was even supposed to be there, but I sat in and listened anyway. It was like he reached into your chest and ripped out your heart. It was one of the most powerful speeches I had ever heard.”
It is without a doubt that Mr. Dunton will go down as one of Hampton’s most legendary teachers. He was a great teacher as well as a great man. He is missed by many, but the Hamptonian staff wishes him a wonderful retirement.