when were you in highschool? I took honors bio back in 93 in highschool and it was all memorization of aniimal and plants parts. I'm taking bio 180 at UW now (20 years after graduating college) and it's all about genetics and statistics. They're almost different subjects. One is closer to farming and exploring and the latter is more science and the unseen. I could totally see an end of career hs teacher staying with the older style.
Also I bet that dude knew where all of the morels grew.
A bit later than you, and not in the US. But as my teacher was born around World War 2 (estimated from their retirement date) I don't think it is unexpected that they had a very different view. Biology has fundamentally changed in that timeframe.
My teacher back then was in ww2. He actually was one of the army kids in the closer bunkers who were somewhat unwitting test subjects. He had a recording of him being interviewed after one of the first tests. He said he was 18 at the time. He said "I think this might just change the world" or something like it. I couldn't find the interview with a quick google. His last name was stocker. He was actually a great teacher in basic science the year before which is why I took honors bio but I zoned out memorizing all of the names of parts of sponges. The kids in regular bio were dissecting pig fetuses.
The man had a photo of an orangutan on his desk facing class with the name plate "moker joe". "An orangutan could get about 50% on this test", he'd say and walk around saying to the kids he knew weren't studying "Moker Joe's gonna get you Craig". Some of the smart kids pointed out to him that Moker would probbably get way less than 50% at random probability. "yeah but the kids moker's gonna get don't know that".
Anyway it's definitely more interesting this time around and only taking one class at a time.
Also I bet that dude knew where all of the morels grew.