As a new English teacher without a permanent classroom at Mascoma Valley Regional High School, Skip Chalker’s necktie continually got stuck in his stacks of books as he carried them from class to class. From this annoyance, a legacy was born.
Using a children’s sewing machine, Skip taught himself to sew bow ties. Early on, he “made the mistake” of telling students he’d never wear the same bowtie twice in one year. Mr. Chalker has made good on that commitment and turned his signature style into a compelling composition curriculum that connects with students.
Over the last decade, he has sewn over 1,000 bowties, many of which proudly hung on the wall of his now permanent classroom–that is, until he was instructed to take them down because the fire marshal said they were a fire hazard. Skip’s wife–a retired teacher who, for the record, has never tied his bow tie–didn’t want them at their home, either, so he started giving them to his students.
At the start of each Junior Literature course, each student picks a bowtie and learns how to tie it. Students practice first on their legs before gaining the confidence to do the same thing on their necks without looking.
“It’s fun. A lot of the kids hear about it when they’re in their sophomore and freshman year and they kind of look forward to it,” Chalker says, noting that some of his students have gone on to teach their parents this important life skill, too.
Skip Chalker's Style Ties His Classroom Community Together
After students master the art of bow ties, their individual tie is used as inspiration for different writing projects. One descriptive writing assignment called on students to create their own Peterman Catalog profile, building a backstory for their article of clothing to accompany an artistic composition. At the end of the year, students write a short story in which the tie has to be an integral part.
“The kids learn a life skill and a little bit of literature along the way–what more could you want?” Mascoma Valley Regional High School principal Tina Fleming says, noting that Mr. Chalker is a common pick for spirit weeks on “Dress Like a Teacher Day.”
The designs of Skip’s bowties are as unique and varied as the 350 students at MVRHS. There’s one for every color of the rainbow, every season and holiday, pop culture icons from Friends to Spongebob Squarepants, and more. When his father-in-law died, he used his collection of silk ties to create upcycled bow ties, though these are keepsakes not available to students.
Now, the bowties have been removed from the wall, his craft store of choice–Joann Fabrics–has closed their doors, and Skip Chalker is set to retire after 27 years in the district. But it’s not yet time for a final bow.
Skip explains, “I’m cheating. I’m retiring, but then I’m going to be hired to teach part-time next year. So I’ll be retiring every day at 11:30.”
When he does finally hang up his bow tie for good, Skip expects this particular curriculum will retire with him but he hopes teachers continue to find their own unique ways to connect with students.
“If you’ve got some kind of interest, like bow ties, try to incorporate that into what you’re teaching. Any time you can bring something that’s a passion of yours somehow into it, it helps the students to…” Chalker trails off, before a student finishes his sentence.
“...understand you as a person,” junior Anna Emerseon says.
Another junior, Silas Jukoski, concludes, “Your bow ties are how you express yourself.”
