While science may be Ed Jarrett’s forte, he takes every opportunity to teach kids as much as he knows, preparing them for the future. (Photo by Elisa Walker)

WARSAW — Having taught fifth grade for 30 years Ed Jarrett, 54, Warsaw, is still learning more and more everyday. Even though he’s taught many, he still enjoys being able to be a student himself and feed his mind.

Jarrett is extremely hands-on in teaching, in fixing things and in his hobbies, including astronomy. It was 15 years ago he began dabbling in amateur astronomy and he hasn’t stopped since.

Astronomy finds its way into small cracks and openings in classroom lessons. Jarrett and another teacher, Rick Glass, found themselves both invested in astronomy and teaching at the same school. They then created the Junior Astronomical Club. Tucked beside a bookshelf near his desk in the classroom sits a large homemade telescope Jarrett had built when he first stepped into the astronomical field.

“I wanted to know how telescopes worked, so I made this.” Jarrett explained. “Telescopes are mysterious things. There’s a light path in there then there’s light reflected and refracted. You can buy a telescope, set it up and look at anything you want but I wanted to know what was under the hood and what really made it work. I had a fun time building it and now I intimately know how it works. It’s great for the kids, too, because they’ll see it and immediately get drawn in.”

Jarrett was a teacher before he was a father. His three kids didn’t stand a chance since it was as if he already knew them, like he had been teaching them all his life. In return having children also aided him in becoming a better teacher. Being a father and a teacher went hand in hand, harmonizing together perfectly. It may technically be a nine-to-five job but he never stops being a teacher.

College prepped him for a classroom but Jarrett learned patience from his father. As a young boy Jarrett remembers his father was very good with his hands in fixing things, doing automotive work and building objects, something Jarrett would find himself enjoy doing later in adulthood. He often enjoys personal activities and hobbies that contrast with the general teaching atmosphere. Enjoying wilderness and the chaos of the woods, he can take a breath of fresh air and appreciate all that’s around him before heading back to the classroom.

“Teaching shows me year after year more things that I need to learn and grow with. There’s always more,” he elaborated. “To have two amateur astronomers in an elementary building, the odds are extremely against that. There’s almost an obligation to pass along this kind of knowledge. We have the audience that’s ready to learn and we have the ability to teach. It would be unfair to not share this knowledge.

“Kids in other buildings can’t get that knowledge because they just don’t have the people. Any building can have a telescope, software, curriculum and materials but if you’re not passionate about astronomy, you can only teach so far. We can only teach the kids while they’re here. Whether we’re tired, grumpy and want to go home, it doesn’t matter. We have something to pass along and it’d be a waste if we didn’t.

“So we’re doing our best to distribute that knowledge and foster that interest.”