Canada Is Not That Strange And Other Biases | Wednesday | Period 2

[just-add-starch.livejournal.com]

A new term meant a new class and a new challenge for Fraser. He was fairly confident he would rise to the challenge but new things always brought nerves. He was waiting in the classroom for the students to arrive, fully uniformed and posture perfect.

"Good morning," he greeted them all once everyone had assembled and settled down, "and welcome to Canada Is Not That Strange and Other Biases. For those that don't know me, I am Constable Benton Fraser, a native of Canada, so you can rest assured I am qualified to teach this course."

His posture relaxed and he smiled. "As the title of the course says, this is going to be a class on learning and possibly refuting the many, many biases, myths and urban legends that are a part of our different cultures. And, while I don't know everything about every culture, I am fairly confident in saying all cultures have myths, urban legends or biases."

Of course, teaching this class would probably help him learn about different cultures and Fraser was pleased with that. "The definitions for these words are similar but not entirely true. A myth is typically a traditional story usually concerning a hero or an event without any determinable basis of fact or explanation. A bias is a particular tendency that prevents unprejudiced consideration of a question. An urban legend is a modern story of obscure origin and with little or no supporting evidence that spreads spontaneously in varying forms and often has elements of humor, moralizing, or horror. The similarities are there but the differences are as well. In this class, we're going to be looking at examples of each of these, talking about them, examining them and then deciding if they have any merit at all. This class will be both silly and serious, confusing and easy. And I hope it's interesting."

With that said, Fraser clasped his hands in front of him. "Of course, the first week is almost always for introductions and I think that's a good idea with some new faces. So please, tell me your name and your age and one myth, bias or urban legend you might want to discuss. Let's get started."

Library [9-1]

[imonscholarship.livejournal.com]

Dan was spending his shift on his laptop, switching between just surfing around doing nothing and attempting to buy super train tickets so he could go to New York this weekend. He really hated the train. People were smelly and weird.

Cultural Appreciation, Week I [Wednesday, Periods 4 & 5]

[atreideslioness]

Ghanima was perched on the front of her desk as students came in today, watching them curiously. "Good afternoon, and welcome to hopefully our only on-campus class," she said, once everyone had arrived. "For those of you that are new, I am Lady Ghanima Atreides, and this is Cultural Appreciation. If you are in the wrong class, please depart now." She waited a moment to see if anyone was going to get up and leave before continuing. "If you have not had one of my classes before, you may call me Lady Ghanima, Miss Ghanima, or Miss Atreides, whichever you are more comfortable with."

"Too often, students become wrapped up in the strange culture of Fandom Island very quickly after they arrive here, never looking past its boarders to see the wider world. This class is an opportunity to explore the mainland on a regular basis, and take in some of the wonders that this planet has to offer. We will travel by portal to various points of interest all over the United States, spending two hours at each stop to learn about the culture of the time and place we are currently residing in."

"This is a field trip class, and we will be going off-campus nearly ever week," she said. "In the past, I have used the Danger Shop to simulate non-Fandom environments, such as for the class on terrain, but that would run counter to the entire point of this class. We will be going to three museums, three plays, three national parks, and three formal restaurants. If you are unsure as to appropriate clothing, I suggest a trip into town, just to watch the residents and see what they wear."

Ghanima gestured to her own blue-on-blue eyes. "Of course, being an off-worlder, I stand out, as some of you may. I myself will be wearing sunglasses or special contacts to disguise my eyes when off-island, and I strongly suggest that everyone consider how to blend in. While being a school fieldtrip for 'special students' will excuse many eccentricities, it is important to remember that humans are easily spooked, even this era. Causing riots is not nearly as fun as it sounds, and I will be most put-out with you if you do so deliberately. You won't nap through detention as a punishment, you'll be doing community service work for as long as I deem appropriate."

"Raven, if you would be so kind as to see me after class?"

[OOC: Wait for the traveling OCD! The OCD has claimed its baggage and arrived unharmed!]

Boom-De-Yada Science - Danger Shop, Wednesday, Period 1 [Week 1]

[worsethanaunts.livejournal.com]

The Danger Shop was set up so that when the students walked in, they were on the viewing platform of a space station orbiting the Earth. The window stretched from floor to ceiling and from wall to wall and displayed the planet below them. Once everyone had gathered, the Boom-De-Yada song started playing. That was when the Doctor made his appearance from the back of the room bopping along with the singing. He waited until the song was finished before he addressed the class.

"Hello! I'm the Doctor. It's the strangest thing. This song, the boom-de-yada, it gets stuck in your head like a brain parasite. Don't worry! It's not. It's only like one. But as I was building something far too complicated to explain in one sentence, I started humming along and then singing and, well, look at her." He splayed an arm out directed at the Earth beneath them. "Millions of planets in the universe and everything always comes back here eventually. It's beautiful with the blobs and blue and green and swirls of white. Completely insignificant in the scheme of things, and yet somehow it always finds a way to be special.

Anyway, that turned into a class and you signed up so you're here. We'll learn about the parts of Earth that are in the song and some others if I feel like it, as well as the science of how everything works and how you can use that knowledge to your advantage.

You've all been here on Earth at least," he checked his bulky gold wristwatch, "three days, so you'll be able to answer this question. What's your favourite thing about Earth so far? Don't tell me! Talk to each other. Multiple others. If you want to talk to me, you can, but the point is to get to know each other because you'll have to work together this semester, probably in dangerous situations since the Earth, well, Earth is a bit dangerous when it wants to be.

Over there, blonde girl, looks like she wants to kill you with her stare. That's Cara. She's my TA. I'm looking for another to make sure she doesn't set anything on fire. Talk to me if you want the job and I'll consider you. That's all, go on!"

He pressed a button on the wall and the song started playing again.

Ethics [Thursday, September 2, 2nd period]

[sith_happened]

Anakin walked into his classroom precisely on time and gave the students assembled there an appraising glance-as the door clicked shut behind him. "I'm Master Anakin Skywalker," he said in a voice that was intended to carry. "You may address me either as Master Skywalker or Professor Skywalker. This is Ethics, and we're going to skip the introductions--I'll figure out who you are, if I don't recognize you already--and move straight to our first discussion."

His cloak flared out behind him as he handed out the syllabus. "Today's topic," he said, pointing to the top of the page, "is self sacrifice: knowing the difference between saving people and being a pretentious twit."

Anakin wasn't a great believer in softening his language.

"Any time I ask a a group of people what they would do to save someone they love, they blither on about how they would set the world on fire, lie, cheat, steal, kill, die, et cetera, et cetera. I've been at this school five years now and realize that half of you have probably already been put into this situation. I'm never in a mood to hear adolescent ramblings about how wonderful you were or might hypothetically be."

He leaned back against his desk. "What I want to know is what would make you walk away. When do you decide that the risk isn't worth the cost?"