Close to Home by John McPherson for September 29, 2013

stlmaddog5: Sounds like some of my professors. My comp anat prof told us about a colleague whose opening surgery lecture was a dramatic entry with a scalpel and a stack of newspapers. Holding up the scalpel, he said, “Gentlemen” [all who would take surgery in those days], this is what you will use to earn your living. With it, you will gain enough skill to be able to cut one, five, 10, 25, or 50 sheets." After cutting the paper, he left. The 25 was ± one, and the 50 ± three, the rest were right on. They tended to pay attention.

It happened a year before I had him, but my chemistry professor preceded an exam, face down on the desks, on why everyone should start together. Then he counted down “ready, set, go” and at go, fired a starter pistol.