Jesse......who?

[speckle-catcher]

this is first hand from the teacher:

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Some of you have heard some of my classroom horror stories...here's a new one. Fresh! Not even an hour old....

Martha (who is glad she isn't trying to teach social studies)

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In my class today, I mentioned Jesse Jackson (don't remember why) and one of my 7th graders said. "Who is that?"

Of course, I was amazed and carried on big time about him not knowing who Jesse is. Then I thought...wait a minute...and said, "Who in here knows who Jesse Jackson is?"

Not ONE hand went up! (This is a predominantly black class----and I figured every one of them would have heard Jesse's name.)

So, I said...."I CANNOT believe you do not know who Jesse Jackson is! He is one of the most well-known public figures in the country!" (and left out the part about how when a camera turns on, ol' Jesse jumps in front of it *g*)

Kelvin says...."Oh!! I know!! He's a baseball pitcher!!"

"No, Kelvin. What makes you think that?"

"Well, you SAID he is an important figure."

"No...not a baseball pitcher."

"I KNOW!! I KNOW!!" says Kelvin. "He's Michael Jackson's cousin!!!"

I gave up.

We are doomed in the CRCT Social Studies Department.

M

[Super Dave]

this is first hand from the teacher:

**********************************

Some of you have heard some of my classroom horror stories...here's a new one. Fresh! Not even an hour old....

Martha (who is glad she isn't trying to teach social studies)

*********************************

In my class today, I mentioned Jesse Jackson (don't remember why) and one of my 7th graders said. "Who is that?"

Of course, I was amazed and carried on big time about him not knowing who Jesse is. Then I thought...wait a minute...and said, "Who in here knows who Jesse Jackson is?"

Not ONE hand went up! (This is a predominantly black class----and I figured every one of them would have heard Jesse's name.)

So, I said...."I CANNOT believe you do not know who Jesse Jackson is! He is one of the most well-known public figures in the country!" (and left out the part about how when a camera turns on, ol' Jesse jumps in front of it *g*)

Kelvin says...."Oh!! I know!! He's a baseball pitcher!!"

"No, Kelvin. What makes you think that?"

"Well, you SAID he is an important figure."

"No...not a baseball pitcher."

"I KNOW!! I KNOW!!" says Kelvin. "He's Michael Jackson's cousin!!!"

I gave up.

We are doomed in the CRCT Social Studies Department.

M



Maybe she should have asked if anyone knew who Shiela Jackson Lee is.

[Sea Aggie]

My Macro-Economics prof at Texas A&M (Dr. Lynn Gillette) used Jessie as an example in almost every class. This was back when he was running in the `88 election and the proff would ask us to pick apart the latest "economic solution" proposed by the candidate.

Man, what a fun class. He really taught us how to watch the news and draw our own conclusions. Funny, we usually came to different answers than the reporter, using the same data.