A teacher gave Gary Burghoff a valuable lesson and a lifelong friendship

M*A*S*H's Radar learned a lot in seventh grade.

On Now
MeTV Presents The Best of Radar O’Reilly
Up Next:

Way before he popped up on anyone's radar in M*A*S*H, Gary Burghoff was just a regular seventh-grade student, dealing with regular seventh-grade problems. One such issue was Mrs. Magdaline Heffernen, his teacher at Bingham School. Like many of his peers, Burghoff thought that Mrs. Heffernen was too strict. The difference between young Gary and the rest of his classmates though, was that Burghoff took matters into his own hands, deciding to take charge against the teacher he thought was stern.

Called to action, 13-year-old Gary Burghoff drafted a petition to end Mrs. Heffernen's career at Bingham School. It's an age-old ploy that probably happens once a year in every school across America. Surely Gary Burghoff wasn't the only kid who ever tried to get his teacher fired. The difference, though, was how widespread his campaign was.

"I didn't think she was so great when I was in her room at Bingham School because [Mrs. Heffernen] was so strict," Burghoff told the Hartford Courant in 1975. "I decided to draw up a petition to get rid of her. So I got 460 kids' signatures on a paper that said "This PARTITION [sic] is against Mrs. Heffernen."

The young Radar marched down to the principal's office, sure his hard work would make him the hero of the schoolyard. In Burghoff's mind, the principal would be so surprised by the sheer number of signatures that he'd have no choice but to tell Mrs. Heffernen to leave forever. This is an exceptional example of 13-year-old boy logic. If all went according to plan, Mrs. Heffernen would have to drop to her knees and beg the kids she'd "wrong" to keep her job. They'd, of course, refuse, banishing her forever from Bingham School. 

"Instead," said Burghoff, "the principal got us together and showed us a photo of a young girl surrounded by lots of school children. 'You see this girl, he said. 'Well, that's Mrs. Heffernen. There was an active tuberculosis case found in the school, and the next day only four out of 60 teachers showed up for school. The others were afraid. Mrs. Heffernen was one of the four who came to take care of the children. Now, do you want to get rid of her?'"

The students summarily tore up the petition, and the young Burghoff learned a valuable lesson, delivering a personal and heartfelt apology to Mrs. Heffernen.

Like all great stories, though, this one has a twist! Mrs. Heffernen became one of Gary Burghoff's favorite people ever, and the TV star would visit his former teacher every time he visited home.

Watch M*A*S*H on MeTV!

Weeknights at 6 PM, Sundays at 7 PM

*available in most MeTV markets
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
Close

11 Comments

rockaria 16 months ago
I know actors often have far different personalities than the characters they portray. I don't know much about Gary Burghoff, but I hope he's as sweet and lovable in real life as Radar was. I was so sad when he left the show.
Kim 16 months ago
The moral to Radar's story... boys went to war and returned home men.
JHP 16 months ago
the ep portrayed - is another one of my favs - they were all supposed to be freezing in Cali
Runeshaper 16 months ago
Great ending to a great story ❤️
Deleted 16 months ago
This comment has been removed.
16 months ago
This comment has been removed.
16 months ago
This comment has been removed.
Wiseguy70005 16 months ago
What's with all the pictures that have nothing to do with Gary Burghoff?
Deleted 16 months ago
This comment has been removed.
16 months ago
This comment has been removed.
LoveMETV22 17 months ago
Great story with a happy ending. I recall a teacher who amazingly remained in her position, even though she was always trumpeting out commands.
Mblack 17 months ago
In grade 8 one kid thought the teacher was a bad teacher. I never saw it. But she organized a walkout (shades of Room 222, which was on ly a few years in the past). Most of the class stayed out, I never heard something to convince me, so I was one of the few who went to class.

We never saw that teacher again.

Maybe there was substance, but I think the student was able to convince the class easily.
CaptainDunsel 17 months ago
Mrs. McClellan
CaptainDunsel 16 months ago
This comment has been removed.
mooseeugnebagandwallyfan 16 months ago
This comment has been removed.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?