Adam Fried teaches math.

Where did you work before BHS?

Last year I was at Melrose High School,.

Did you like it there?

I did, it was a lot of fun. The school was about half the size, so it took half the time to get to know everyone, which was nice, but it’s also pretty cool being in such a big place and having so many students and staff.

Why did you want to become a math teacher?

It’s just something that I have always been passionate about. I was always the math kid in school. It just came naturally to me, and I really like how numbers work together. I also really like working with high school-age students. It’s a great group to be with. It’s a lot of fun and I like to challenge folks.

Who’s your favorite mathematician?

Teaching Geometry this year I kind of have to be a big fan of Euclid, who basically is the reason why we have geometry in a sense. It’s called Euclidean Geometry, so he’s responsible for basically all of it and codified it and put it all together. And it’s impressive that 2000 years ago, without any numbers at all, because the Greeks didn’t have numbers that they were using, they still managed to do everything that we are teaching today.

When you became a math teacher did your views of teachers change?

My view has changed. When I was a student myself I was “in it.” I had seven classes a day, and I had homework in all these subjects. As a teacher it can be hard to forget that your class is not the only class that your students are taking, and there are other things going on, and not everyone who walks through the door wants to be in that class.

Are the kids different from your high school experience?

My school definitely had a strong love of learning, which I have seen here. Students definitely are engaged and want to get into material and learn more. Students are much more polite here then I am used to. I don’t know if it’s just because of Brookline, but I still haven’t quite gotten used to everyone thanking me after class.

Clasby Chope can be contacted at [email protected].