Shah Akbar Ahmed Khan. I just learned from Charles Hodgkins that Mr. Khan died last year. I have linked this post to the obituary on the TASIS web page, and to the page that announces the establishment of the Akbar Khan Memorial Award. I tell some stories about Akbar in the comments section. 
posted by Dr. Bruce Kirchoff @ 8:29 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Akbar Kahn was the faculty member who lived in Bosco. His door was right down the hall from the room I shared with my four roommates. It was Akbar's door that Tim Iverson and I sneaked past on the way to the dark room to work on the yearbook.
Do you recall that we did not get fed on Sunday morning? Akbar used to make pancakes for some of us on Sunday. Not every Sunday, but often enough to make it noteworthy. He had a small hot plate on which he would cook. Still hungry? Just make yourself some more!
I still remember taking calculus with him. I remember his thin form at the blackboard, writing and explaining some aspect of derivatives. One lesson was particularly memorable. A student asked if it would not be possible to do a problem a different way. Instead of replying Akbar took his arm. wrapped it around his head and mimed putting food into his mouth. He said "Yes, and you could also eat this way." From then on whenever we did a problem the hard way, he would just wrap his arm around his head and give us a kind of foolish look. We got the message.
I am a teacher now so, in addition to my 35 years of post-High School experience, I have somewhat of a special perspective. I think we were really lucky to have Akbar and some of the other faculty at TASIS for teachers. They are just what a teacher should be: someone who teaches content by teaching themselves. I still occasionally use that eating around the head trick with my students. Not often, but when I do I always mention my High School math teacher, Akbar Khan. Thanks Akbar!
Just now finding this blog and so saddened to learn of his passing. When I studied in Mr. Kahn's geometry class as a sophomore circa 1968, I had enormous challenges with the material. At one point, in abject non-understanding, I asked when we would study left triangles. He was most amused and from then on, always ensured I was understanding. I recd a C in his class with a 1 for effort. Learning algebra with him was a breeze with easy A's. A phenomenal instructor who truly cared that his students learned.
Sandra Briggs (Ellis)
My Sister and myself were shocked as well. There are many very dear moments we have shared with "Mr. Khan" as we called him; We definitely will always miss him.
Boris & Diana MILISAVLJEVIC, TASIS 1974-1981
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