Diana Caplow: Fox wowed fifth-graders

Regarding the July 19 article “Superior Court Judge Carl Fox finds opportunity to help others”: Carl Fox annually visited my fifth-grade class at Seawell School in Chapel Hill during a study of the judicial system.

Always arriving with a smile, he’d introduce himself and explain the role of a prosecuting attorney. He didn’t lecture but instead presented a judicial dilemma for debate. He never talked down to the students, respecting their statements as he praised their thinking, while pointing to problems in their logic and the difficulty in finding fair solutions. It amazed me that in the end Carl knew every student’s name.

Year after year he turned my classroom into a perfect learning experience, one where students were engaged in critical thinking while discussing complicated issues. I once suggested that he’d make a perfect teacher.

I remember one visit when Carl came in looking tired. I asked how he felt, and he explained that he’d been working all night on a case but would not miss a session with my kids because he had promised to come. What a guy!

I could never repay him for his generosity of time and spirit, but I’m hoping someone repays him for all his contributions to our community by providing a bone marrow sample.

This story was originally published July 27, 2015 at 5:49 PM with the headline "Diana Caplow: Fox wowed fifth-graders."