Amongst the repertoire of classes English teacher, Aaron Schwartz, has taught, Comic Books is on the more obscure side. Most teachers have not sat kids down and taught them the in depths of how graphic novels are written and their importance, but Schwartz has..

The course allowed for many students to learn in a more adaptive environment with different forms of literature than typical English courses at Basehor Linwood High School.

“You can have seniors and juniors who are college bound [that] can take it. It’s a really hard class for them and it’s high interest to keep them challenged, it keeps them in school… also you could get really struggling readers [to] respond really well to comic because it’s more of a visual literacy,” Schwartz said.

His involvement with the course came from a deep spot of care for students and a love of comic books. However, these are not his only deep rooted interests, Schwartz has a love for expressing himself through creative writing.

He has always had an interest in writing. “I remember when I was a kid at indoor recess–you know where it like rains and they would give us options like board games–and I would just sit at word processor and I would just write stories,” Schwartz said.

Surprisingly his interest in writing does not expand to areas such as nonfiction and journalism. His interest in writing stays mostly in fiction and poetry.

“It’s not like I don’t like the truth, but I liked being able to tell things my way,” Schwartz said. Telling his own story is important to him and it shows through his passion.

Writing with no restriction to facts allows Schwartz to get his purpose across through writing more effectively than through areas that are bound by facts.

“In nonfiction or journalism you’re still bound by the details,” Schwartz said. Being bound by details makes Schwart’s feel inhibited and doesn’t allow him to truly express his deeper meanings.

Writing with meaning creates deep passion for every story you write and lets the readers feel the passion. With every writer they have stories they feel they did best, Schwartz is no exception.

“I won a fellowship for a story for grad school, and I won $1,500, and that ended up paying for my wife’s engagement ring,” Schwartz said.

Aaron Schwartz: not just an English teacher. He is also a family man, a comic book enthusiast, and an excellent writer.