MONROE - Jerry Guth has influenced a lot of students to be more involved with politics and government during his 36 years as a social studies teacher at Monroe High School.
This year's class will be Guth's last - he's retiring at the end of the school year. The last day of classes is June 12.
Every year for the past three decades a new group comes to his classroom - along the walls of his classroom are pictures of Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln - to learn about how important it is to try to make a difference.
Two of Guth's former students, Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, and Greg Hubbard, visited the school Tuesday to thank him for inspiring them to public service.
"We wanted to thank you," Davis said as he shook Guth's hand.
Guth was surprised by the visit and laughed as he talked with Davis and Hubbard.
"You guys seemed to have turned out OK," Guth joked.
Hubbard, a 1988 Monroe graduate, and Davis, a 1994 graduate, were students in Guth's Western Civilization class in high school. Hubbard worked as an aide in the Assembly and the Senate and still works in government in Madison. Davis has represented the 80th Assembly District since 2005.
"He had an impact on his students," Hubbard said.
Davis said Guth was a teacher who led by example. He encouraged students to get involved in their community. Guth has served on the Green County Board of Supervisors since 2002.
"He exemplifies service," Davis said.
Guth was moved by his former students' visit.
"It's good to see former students," he said. It's touching that they would take time to come down here."
As he thought back on the many students who took his classes over the years, he said he's proud of them.
"Our kids seem to turn out pretty well," he said.
This year's class will be Guth's last - he's retiring at the end of the school year. The last day of classes is June 12.
Every year for the past three decades a new group comes to his classroom - along the walls of his classroom are pictures of Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln - to learn about how important it is to try to make a difference.
Two of Guth's former students, Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, and Greg Hubbard, visited the school Tuesday to thank him for inspiring them to public service.
"We wanted to thank you," Davis said as he shook Guth's hand.
Guth was surprised by the visit and laughed as he talked with Davis and Hubbard.
"You guys seemed to have turned out OK," Guth joked.
Hubbard, a 1988 Monroe graduate, and Davis, a 1994 graduate, were students in Guth's Western Civilization class in high school. Hubbard worked as an aide in the Assembly and the Senate and still works in government in Madison. Davis has represented the 80th Assembly District since 2005.
"He had an impact on his students," Hubbard said.
Davis said Guth was a teacher who led by example. He encouraged students to get involved in their community. Guth has served on the Green County Board of Supervisors since 2002.
"He exemplifies service," Davis said.
Guth was moved by his former students' visit.
"It's good to see former students," he said. It's touching that they would take time to come down here."
As he thought back on the many students who took his classes over the years, he said he's proud of them.
"Our kids seem to turn out pretty well," he said.