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fandomhigh2006-01-09 11:49 am
professor-lyman.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2006-01-09 11:49 am
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US History (Monday, January 9, 7th period)
Josh put down his copy of the Washington Post when students began arriving.
"Welcome to US history. I'm Josh Lyman and up until a few weeks ago I was the deputy chief of staff for President Josiah Bartlet. You may all be suitably impressed now." He looked around the room. "Good."
"A few quick things. First of all, this won't be like most history classes you've had. Um, if you're from the United States and this part of the timeline, in any case. And can I say upfront that even having to modify my statement like that is still a bit on the weird side for my taste?
"Moving on. I'm not going to be teaching this class as a series of dates that you'll memorize for tests and then forget. Dates don't matter. Events matter. Broad themes matter." He raised his eyebrows. "There'll still be tests, though, but don't stress yourselves out trying to remember the exact date that the Northwest Territories opened to white settlement or the day Chief Joseph surrendered.
"I'm also not going to waste time explaining that the United States is the best country in the history of history, which was pretty much the overarching theme of my high school history classes. America has made some tremendous achievements and some huge strides towards freedom for all--but we're not there yet, and we've certainly had some colossal screw-ups. If you don't think so, I invite you to pay a visit to Pine Ridge reservation out in South Dakota, or to read the Dred Scot decision.
"History isn't static, and there isn't just one interpretation of any event. This class will be about discussing this fact." He looked around the room. "Which means if you don't open your mouth, you're not going to do very well. I'm not huge on paperwork, so most of your grade will be based on class participation."
He picked up a sign-up sheet from his desk. "Please be sure to sign in every class. If you're not here, you can't participate. If you can't participate, you can't pass. Also, you get detention, which I'm led to believe isn't your standard 'sit in a musty classroom with the health teacher' deal."
He smiled and pointed at the board, where he had scrawled a quote. Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. "George Santayana wasn't talking about summer school. After you've signed in, please introduce yourself to the class and tell us what you think he meant."
"Welcome to US history. I'm Josh Lyman and up until a few weeks ago I was the deputy chief of staff for President Josiah Bartlet. You may all be suitably impressed now." He looked around the room. "Good."
"A few quick things. First of all, this won't be like most history classes you've had. Um, if you're from the United States and this part of the timeline, in any case. And can I say upfront that even having to modify my statement like that is still a bit on the weird side for my taste?
"Moving on. I'm not going to be teaching this class as a series of dates that you'll memorize for tests and then forget. Dates don't matter. Events matter. Broad themes matter." He raised his eyebrows. "There'll still be tests, though, but don't stress yourselves out trying to remember the exact date that the Northwest Territories opened to white settlement or the day Chief Joseph surrendered.
"I'm also not going to waste time explaining that the United States is the best country in the history of history, which was pretty much the overarching theme of my high school history classes. America has made some tremendous achievements and some huge strides towards freedom for all--but we're not there yet, and we've certainly had some colossal screw-ups. If you don't think so, I invite you to pay a visit to Pine Ridge reservation out in South Dakota, or to read the Dred Scot decision.
"History isn't static, and there isn't just one interpretation of any event. This class will be about discussing this fact." He looked around the room. "Which means if you don't open your mouth, you're not going to do very well. I'm not huge on paperwork, so most of your grade will be based on class participation."
He picked up a sign-up sheet from his desk. "Please be sure to sign in every class. If you're not here, you can't participate. If you can't participate, you can't pass. Also, you get detention, which I'm led to believe isn't your standard 'sit in a musty classroom with the health teacher' deal."
He smiled and pointed at the board, where he had scrawled a quote. Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. "George Santayana wasn't talking about summer school. After you've signed in, please introduce yourself to the class and tell us what you think he meant."
Re: Discussion question.
Re: Discussion question.
Re: Discussion question.
Re: Discussion question.
"And as for the voting thing, you're the guy who "is the law!" right? Find me a loophole, and I'm there. Although you might want to design it to leave out all the old, crazy people in Florida. I don't know if they're banging around anywhere, but anything's possible. I mean, they're high on my list for who composed that zombie army that invaded town."
Re: Discussion question.
Re: Discussion question.
Lilly clasped a hand to her chest, and said, "But I'm not a zombie. Zombies are really disgusting, just like in the movies with the detachable limbs and the goo. I'd dead, not undead. There's a subtle difference, in that I have no desire to eat brains, and I smell good."
Re: Discussion question.
His face froze. "And I can't believe I said that sentence sober and actually meant it."