Swimming Lessons

Summer. Such an uncomplicated season. Winter's menace and spring's frenzy are over.

With calmer spirits, we emerge into the sunlight, ready for carefree simplicities.

Of course, life doesn't always permit that, does it? This year's Metro summer series continues.

Melbourne LeRoy Arbin III's life four weeks ago: 27 seventh-graders (about 20 who tried, two who didn't, five who waffled), 27 sets of parents (a few who supported him, one who griped at him, most who were invisible), endless stacks of papers to grade (almost all passed).

In his classroom at Charles County's Matthew Henson Middle School, the 50-year-old brainy whiz of an engineering teacher would go from computer to computer, a USB memory stick flopping against navy blazer, patiently explaining -- again -- how to construct three-dimensional models. The air would be filled with "Mr. Arbin! Mr. Arbin!"

But today, Mr. Arbin is transformed. He is . . .

Capt. Arbin! Master of the wind, the waves and all things tiki!

"Butch" Arbin is captain of Ocean City's 200-person Beach Patrol. He has been a summer lifeguard for 35 years.

He is one of many educators who lead double lives: Many don't teach in summer, so they get full-time seasonal jobs. In Ocean City, 90 percent of the lifeguards who return each year are teachers.

Arbin's second-in-command is a high school physical education teacher from Anne Arundel County. Two of the sergeants teach at Montgomery County elementary schools. Even the secretaries in the Beach Patrol office are teachers.

One of Arbin's predecessors as captain taught mathematics at a boarding school in St. Louis. The day school ended, he'd pack up his Chrysler. "The minute I gave my last exam and turned my grades in, I came right out to Ocean City," said Robert Craig, 89 and retired.