I’ve been listening to Professor Bebop’s R&B show on WTJU since I was a kid. It’s the show I’ve listened to more regularly, and certainly look forward to more, than any other local radio program. In the mid 90s, when I DJd at WTJU, I’d hoped I’d meet the professor himself, but I never did. Throughout, I’ve heard rumors that he’s actually a principal of a school in town, but I never knew if there was anything to it.
In this week’s Hook, Lisa Provence interviews Dave Rogers, aka Professor Bebop. (Shocker: He’s white!) Turns out he’s the principal at Jack Jouett, and used to be principal at Walker and Buford. The piece is a great read for fans of his show.
Here’s the most wonderful and remarkable part of the interview:
Most embarrassing moment? Losing my composure with a student and acting like a bigger jerk than I thought he was being by trying to belittle and intimidate him in front of the class. I had to acknowledge my behavior to his parents in an angry conference. Fortunately, I learned some valuable lessons about giving and receiving respect, and I’ve dedicated myself to modeling that since that time.
This is a principal of a public middle school, who understands and acknowledges bad behavior towards a student. I’m so pleased that Dave Rogers (can we call him Mr. Rogers?) has made this public statement of the importance of treating students with respect. Three cheers for Professor Bebop!
The Professor was a staple of my ill-spent youth in the early 80s too. I was stunned to learn his real identity. One of the all-time best Christmas presents I ever received was a pair of cassettes of two different shows. A friend who worked as a teacher under Dave Rogers was able to obtain them for me. Treasured items that they are, I have transferred them to CD and make digital copies for myself as the cd’s get scratched up. What a hoot – I still tune in every chance I get. What treasures for C’vill both WTJU and Dave Rogers are.