Story 16: Are you a rugged individualist?
Good Grief, did I have a scary thought just now. I was thinking of Samuel Clemmons’, aka Mark Twain, famous comment: “I only know what I read in the newspapers,” this day, it being enhanced to include: hear/see on the Media. I wonder what his appropriate little wisdoms he would mouth out had he had Google to verify.
Still, I can’t help but remember a little stunt I would pull that dealt with just this kind of statement. Back at Alhambra in that Health and Safety class I’ll not forget the time when we were talking about the effect of peers on the individual. I’d have the students raise their hands if they considered themselves more individuals or more like sheep. Of course, up shot most all the hands as individuals.
Thanks to that feller that sits on my shoulder whispering into my ear, I sent a student to the office on a needless, but time consuming errand. Most important here, is to chose an individual with a strong personality; one who can bear being the brunt of a joke. During that time they were out, I’d convince the rest of the class to pull a little trick on the person. When they returned, I’d announce that we were going to have a little pop quiz to prepare for a coming test. As it was only a practice thing, they could raise their hands for which of the two answers I’d provide were true. During the student’s prolonged absence, I’d prep the class with the questions.
Now, one of the answers would be pretty obviously true, to which they were not to raise their arms; but, to raise their hands at the obviously false answer. Of course, I convinced the class on the need to keep straight faces and not to laugh. The result was absolutely classic; each and every class.
When the subject returned and took their seat, I began the true/false practice quiz. The first answer was obviously correct, the subject’s hand shot right up…. but, all alone. As the person looked around, they had a rather perplexed look and when all other hands went up with the obviously false question, the look became confused. When their response was the same for the second question, there was a bit of hesitation with their hand as well as jostling a bit in their seat.
Then, by the 3rd or 4th question, class after class, the subject’s hand was going up with all the others, wrong as the answers were.
Now came the lesson: I complimented the classmates on their superb acting abilities which brought about the laughter that had been held back. After the laughter died down, I then asked: “How differently would you have responded if you were the subject here? Before you answer, really/really think on it!”
I would then admonish their self-images as being strong individuals, but would go on to tell them not to feel too badly because 99.9 plus % of the population is that way; that my point was just to keep in mind in the future if they were being “led by rhyme rather than reason”.
A favorite stunt I’d pull when teaching about geology and rocks, I’d make a big thing about something concerning Quartz, when preparing for an exam the following day. Then in correcting the test, when I’d mark what I told them as wrong, there would be an immediate: “But you said!!!!” Of course the object of that lesson came with a smile: “Oh how easily you are going to be led if you don’t cross reference and/or verify.” Now, those of you who wish to get on my case about misleading students, make sure to read my grading policies which will be soon to follow. I was there to teach; not preach, as nasty as getting educated could get sometimes. Then, if you take a simple look at how we are being led by the Media today, I’d rest my case.
Not wanting to get into politics, but I was jolted beyond repair with the CNN rep, not realizing he was still “live” made the infamous statement about “know this Russian stuff is B.S., but we’re going with it anyway”. I was reminded how I’d always tell my classes: “You can curse me; hit me; kick; etc., and always be forgiven. However, if you lie to me, how will I ever know you are not being deceitful again? Yep, last lie I told was when I was ten; and, that’ll be another story as I lost the trust of someone very important to me, forever.
Yep, I even signed up for the tweets of one of my lesser favorite people just to see how they compared to what was in the Media. I still shake my head at the amount of “twisting” I found. More important, in researching this story, I went to Google to get this CNN’s guy’s position and name, but this time found Google completely scrubbed the incident. I don’t know about you, but I’m finding that scarier than a lie. But, as I’ve said before, I’m not you.
Wishing you well, LarryBme2@aol.com