GETTING TO KNOW... Chris Toth

St. Thomas More Collegiate's Chris Toth, likes music almost as much as he likes science, which explains why his profile picture is a guitar. When he's not performing in front of the class, or at a convention, you might find him playing a gig at your local bar!

Chris will be rocking the science world once again at this year's BC Science Institute as he shows you how to 'demonstrate your excitement with chemistry' Learn how to captivate, motivate, and excite students through the use of demonstrations.


Get to know Chris...

Where do you teach?
St. Thomas More Collegiate

How long have you been teaching?
26 years

Why are you a teacher? What do you like best about teaching?
I think I the answer to both of these questions is pretty much the same. I enjoy meeting and working with young people, trying to have a positive influence on their careers and their lives, and getting them excited about Science. I also like the fact that although teaching demands an awful lot, and isn't easy to do well, it can give at least as much back and tends to keep you at least feeling young.

What do you dislike?
Lots of marking, bureaucracy, and maybe parent-teacher interviews

Tell us about a funny thing that happened in class.
I'm not sure how "funny" this really is, but a few years ago, I had a student who liked to sit near the back of the class so he could lean his labstool against a pillar. As far back as grade 10, whenever he did it in my class, I would call him on it and suggest that one day, he might fall over and hit his head. I eventually moved him to a different location in the science 10 class for his own safety. He continued with this habit sporadically through chem 11 and into chem 12. Once again I reminded him that he might get hurt, and once again moved him away from the pillar.

Skip ahead now to the end of grade twelve, 35 minutes before his last high school provincial exam - chemistry 12. We're completing a final review class in the lab and, as usual, the same student is leaning back on his chair against the pillar. All of a sudden, the bottom of the chair slips and the chair falls. As he's also falling, he bangs his head bangs against the corner of the pillar and receives a 4 cm cut requiring stiches. He's not in much pain, but there's lots of blood and he's very worried about missing his exam. We manage to get him to a walk-in clinic 3 blocks away (run by a doctor who is a school alumnus), and he gets 4 or 5 stitches just in time to allow him to write his exam. He then manages to write a great test and all's well that ends well.

Why Science?
There are so many answers to this that maybe a better question would be: "Why not Science?" Science is as exciting to teach as it is to learn; it's the most relevant discipline and is becoming more so all the time; it changes and grows and re-connects and reworks itself all the time; in its entirety, I think it offers students the most opportunities to pursue important and fascinating careers, particularly in today's world and today's economy. Boom dee odda. Boom dee odda .....

How did you spend the summer?
Doing a little travelling, a little music, and a lot of R & R

Are you involved in Science outside of the classroom?
I Co-Chaired ChemEd 2005 at UBC and have attended quite a few chemistry conferences throughout North America. I served on the Advisory Board for the new BC Science 8, 9, and 10 texts and have presented several times at the BC Science Institutes.

If I wasn't a teacher, I would be...
Maybe a veterinarian or a musician (wishful thinking)

Have you ever bungee-jumped?
Nope - too scared!

What do you do in your spare time?
When I can find any, I play in a musical duo, ride my bike, and read.

Who would play you in the movie version of your life?
Maybe Robin Williams, because he'd need a good sense of humour.