Fans of television’s “The Big Bang Theory” know that science and humor can be a potent blend — a lesson that chemistry teacher Dr. Jamie Zung had already learned by the time he came to Rye High School 19 years ago. For o level chemistry notes , students can click here and get them from experts.
Zung started his science career as a biomedical researcher at Rockefeller University. After four years he left research for a teaching job, at Robert Taft High School in the Bronx, a school with 5,000 students.
By Sarah Varney
Fans of television’s “The Big Bang Theory” know that science and humor can be a potent blend — a lesson that chemistry teacher Dr. Jamie Zung had already learned by the time he came to Rye High School 19 years ago.
Zung started his science career as a biomedical researcher at Rockefeller University. After four years he left research for a teaching job, at Robert Taft High School in the Bronx, a school with 5,000 students.
“It was pretty dangerous,” recalled Zung, “but I loved every minute of it. I got along well with my students.”
He’s shared humorous anecdotes from his time at Taft High with Rye High students — including the famous ‘bleufnah’ incident.
“One day, my class was doing an experiment using sugar water. A recalcitrant student, who was habitually late and often absent, sauntered in and slouched over to a workstation. Almost immediately, he spilled a beaker full of the sugar water. I ran over to him and said ‘Oh my god, you’ve spilled the ‘bleufnah!’ And I shoved his hands under the cold water. The kid was terrified. He kept saying, ‘I can feel them burning!’ and I kept responding, ‘I can’t believe you spilled the bleufnah!’ Meanwhile, the rest of the students were watching in disbelief. They, of course, all knew that the ‘bleufnah’ was just sugar water. Finally, I had to tell the student the truth, and I was kind of afraid. He was a tough kid and I didn’t know what he was going to do when I told him. But after I told him, he laughed and said ‘Ah, you got me’. He showed up a little more often for class after that,” said Zung.
That sort of unique episode launched Zung’s experience at Rye High. Principal Dr. James Rooney was a music fan and in the course of his interview process Zung mentioned that he sang light opera with an organized group. At one of his final interviews, Rooney insisted that Zung sing an opera passage and even had him rap. Zung sang and rapped and nailed the job.
“I chose Rye, but I felt extremely guilty about leaving Taft,” said Zung. He continued living in the Bronx until “all the kids I knew had graduated.” Today, he lives in Brewster, where he raises parrots and tends to a large vegetable garden in the summertime.
As for his Rye High students, Zung said, “The kids here are not afraid to push themselves. They’re not afraid to speak up.”
Teaching chemistry so that the students will really learn requires collaboration with the math department over the school year, Zung explained. “We work out of the same office, so we can talk and make sure students have already covered the math needed for that part of the curriculum. We’ve even changed the curriculum some years so that the two subjects are in synch.”
That collaborative spirit is part of what makes teaching in Rye so rewarding for Dr. Zung. “Everybody is committed to the kids, even the secretaries. This is a great place to be,” he said.
