YAHOO! SUMMER VACATION MEANS HITTING THE BOOKS!!??
Yep, I am "hitting the books" by sitting in a classroom daily at the Sarvis Center in Flint. I'm one of three "Fellows" from SW Academy; all of us are part of the federal grant brought to Flint by some enterprising grant-writers from the Administration Building.
It's called the "Teaching American History Grant" (TAHG), and it has been my professional pleasure to be involved/invited during the past year. Three local school districts are involved: Flint, Mt. Morris, and Bendle. There are approximately 35 teachers involved, most of whom are high school educators.
Last week involved learning about the Reconstruction Era in American History. The program administrators bring in university professors, experts in their field, to lecture and promote learning amongst our group. Toward the end of the week we were treated to a first-person account of the early Civil Rights Era, involving African Americans in Mississippi.
Friday, a bus picked us up at Central High School in Flint and escorted the group to Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit. I mistakingly thought it would be a boring day...in fact, it was fascinating to witness history "come alive" as one Chancey P. Miller took us by our collective hands and led us through Michigan's history via a long, extremely interesting walk through said cemetery. Part actor, part historian, and one-hundred percent enthusiast, Mr. Miller quite literally brought forth significant personages from American history--it was a sparkling performance not to be forgotten!
It was a week not to be forgotten for more reasons than learning at Sarvis and the Detroit cemetery. I "skipped" school Monday in order to stand in line at Kettering University to catch a glimpse of presidential contender, Senator Barack Obama.
Actually, my valued ticket was already in hand...the hand of Ms. Terry Love, that is. Ms. Love is now director of K.U.'s Wellness Center. She's a former student of mine...way back in her 9th grade Civics class, she'll gladly tell you. As a matter of fact, she is not bashful in telling folks that I was her teacher 35 years ago! I keep telling her (asking her), to keep that time frame quiet...because it makes her look old (she still looks quite young), and it makes me look like I have one foot in the grave (you can be the judge of that...).
Anyway, Ms. Love and I ended up seated in the "red ticket" section of the K.U. gymnasium. She managed to get both of us in the first row. Not bad, since Flint's mayor was in the third row; the president of the university sat behind us to the right! Our seats worked out to be perfect...Obama walked right over to us when he entered from behind the blue curtain drapped across the entire floor of the gym. He shook hands with me as Terry yelled out to him that that day was her birthday (he wished her a happy birtdhday!). Little did we realize that his handshake with me was captured on film by Associated Press photographer, Alex Brandon. And we certainly didn't realize that a Detroit Free Press photographer was squeezing off frame after frame of us as Obama made the rounds, shaking hands with everyone and anyone that reached out to him.
After Obama's stirring speech, he began shaking hands again...this time beginning at the opposite end of the semi-circle of seats--eventually making his way to us again. I got to shake hands with him AGAIN! This time he looked me directly in the eyes and said, "Thank you" to me. I think he remembered me as I led calls during his talk..."OBAMA...OBAMA...OBAMA!!!" Again, I did not realize it but another photographer (a friend of Lena Popova's), had taken photographs of Ms. Love and me.
Terry ended up on the front page of last Tuesday's Detroit Free Press; the edge of my face was there too. That's okay because Ms. Love deserved every bit of that front-page exposure! Today, Sunday, June 22, 2008, I discovered the photo taken by the Associated Press photographer on page A11 of The Flint Journal...in the "Talk Back" section. It was a wonderful, captivating photo of Barack Obama seemingly smiling from ear to ear as he looked at me reaching out to shake his outstretched hand! I quickly emailed The Journal to learn how to get in touch with Mr. Brandon...I want that photograph very, very much!
So that's it, a week of study that included one day of friviality with the future president of the United States, as I like to refer to Senator Barack Obama. One more week of study to go...gosh, can anything be more exciting than what occured last week? I doubt it very much...
It's called the "Teaching American History Grant" (TAHG), and it has been my professional pleasure to be involved/invited during the past year. Three local school districts are involved: Flint, Mt. Morris, and Bendle. There are approximately 35 teachers involved, most of whom are high school educators.
Last week involved learning about the Reconstruction Era in American History. The program administrators bring in university professors, experts in their field, to lecture and promote learning amongst our group. Toward the end of the week we were treated to a first-person account of the early Civil Rights Era, involving African Americans in Mississippi.
Friday, a bus picked us up at Central High School in Flint and escorted the group to Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit. I mistakingly thought it would be a boring day...in fact, it was fascinating to witness history "come alive" as one Chancey P. Miller took us by our collective hands and led us through Michigan's history via a long, extremely interesting walk through said cemetery. Part actor, part historian, and one-hundred percent enthusiast, Mr. Miller quite literally brought forth significant personages from American history--it was a sparkling performance not to be forgotten!
It was a week not to be forgotten for more reasons than learning at Sarvis and the Detroit cemetery. I "skipped" school Monday in order to stand in line at Kettering University to catch a glimpse of presidential contender, Senator Barack Obama.
Actually, my valued ticket was already in hand...the hand of Ms. Terry Love, that is. Ms. Love is now director of K.U.'s Wellness Center. She's a former student of mine...way back in her 9th grade Civics class, she'll gladly tell you. As a matter of fact, she is not bashful in telling folks that I was her teacher 35 years ago! I keep telling her (asking her), to keep that time frame quiet...because it makes her look old (she still looks quite young), and it makes me look like I have one foot in the grave (you can be the judge of that...).
Anyway, Ms. Love and I ended up seated in the "red ticket" section of the K.U. gymnasium. She managed to get both of us in the first row. Not bad, since Flint's mayor was in the third row; the president of the university sat behind us to the right! Our seats worked out to be perfect...Obama walked right over to us when he entered from behind the blue curtain drapped across the entire floor of the gym. He shook hands with me as Terry yelled out to him that that day was her birthday (he wished her a happy birtdhday!). Little did we realize that his handshake with me was captured on film by Associated Press photographer, Alex Brandon. And we certainly didn't realize that a Detroit Free Press photographer was squeezing off frame after frame of us as Obama made the rounds, shaking hands with everyone and anyone that reached out to him.
After Obama's stirring speech, he began shaking hands again...this time beginning at the opposite end of the semi-circle of seats--eventually making his way to us again. I got to shake hands with him AGAIN! This time he looked me directly in the eyes and said, "Thank you" to me. I think he remembered me as I led calls during his talk..."OBAMA...OBAMA...OBAMA!!!" Again, I did not realize it but another photographer (a friend of Lena Popova's), had taken photographs of Ms. Love and me.
Terry ended up on the front page of last Tuesday's Detroit Free Press; the edge of my face was there too. That's okay because Ms. Love deserved every bit of that front-page exposure! Today, Sunday, June 22, 2008, I discovered the photo taken by the Associated Press photographer on page A11 of The Flint Journal...in the "Talk Back" section. It was a wonderful, captivating photo of Barack Obama seemingly smiling from ear to ear as he looked at me reaching out to shake his outstretched hand! I quickly emailed The Journal to learn how to get in touch with Mr. Brandon...I want that photograph very, very much!
So that's it, a week of study that included one day of friviality with the future president of the United States, as I like to refer to Senator Barack Obama. One more week of study to go...gosh, can anything be more exciting than what occured last week? I doubt it very much...
posted by John Davidek, Fulbright South Africa-2006 @ 7:31 PM
4 Comments
4 Comments:
Ooooooh Johnnie, ooooooooh Johnnie!
What could be more thrilling than shaking the hand of an honest to God rock star who is also an honest to God socialist, who looks to make government the omnipotent provider of all things necessary for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. How many days was it that you refused to wash the hand that shook the hand of our next savior (wannabe)? Thank the good Lord that Barak Hussein Obama is a good talker (as opposed to actually accomplishing anything of substance)otherwise the lad would be dangerous.
Your cemetary excursion proved once again how much we can learn from the dead. Just keep in mind that socialism has failed and died everywhere and every time it has been tried. Most notably, the failed USSR attempt to make it work.
Bro Willie! I love sarcasm, especially when it comes to my uncanny ability to meet and greet political folks who happen drop by Flint. I did it with Bill Clinton--as president, no less. Was successful with another leftist hero, Al Gore. No doubt you remember him...the guy who had the presidency stolen from under him. Got to shake hands with Ronnie Reagan when he visited our school (as a candidate for the White House). Oh. Let me not forget shaking hands with Gerald Rudolph Ford. And grabbing his wife around the waist as she was falling was another highlight! Damn. Who can forget when I sat with Jimmy Carter's personal physician in the stands at Northern H.S. Afterward, I shook his hand and later obtained a personally addressed 8X10 photo of the peanut man. Bill, I'm gonna really rock your socks when I tell you that I shook hands with Barack Obama TWICE, not once. On the second time around he gave me the "brother" handshake, looked me in the eyes, and firmly said, "Thank you." Wow! Nope, he's not my Savior...maybe a smooth talker, yes. Socialist? Nah, not really. Senator Obama represents someone who will bring change to the White House. I just plain, flat-out like the guy! They tried to bring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. down with the socialism/communism crap too: J.Edgar Hoover, the psycho FBI boss, tried it and perhaps managed to find a whacko to put a slug through King's jaw. Not this time, Bill. Get used to the idea of a bi-racial guy in the White House. There is a world out there looking forward to the end of W's "service" to our country. Give the brother a chance, brother...
That was interesting Mr. Davidek. Like how Stalin gets anything he wants as well as Palin and if she dont get whats she wants your "toast" i like how you put that. Well i actually learned sumthin reading this!!!
-Jesse Ford
Personally, if I had the chance to vote, I would not vote for McCain-Palin (especially with being one of your students), but I think comparing Sarah Palin to Stalin is ridiculous, but I liked it. Im sure you know, but you are great writer. I love your style of writing... very interesting.
Bria Terry
Sociology
10-2-08
6th hr
(Just how u like it! 20/20! Ha!)
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