Yes We Can!

What a day. I can't believe I got to be a part of history. For a long time I would complain that my generation was deprived of a true transformational hero. Kennedy, King, et al rose to prominence and were murdered before we had a chance to know them and be affected by their profound inspirational abilities. Last night I realized that our generation's hero had finally arrived, and so had a time for us to create the change we wanted to see in the world.

I couldn't wait to share this passion and excitement with the students today. We re-read a biography of Barack that we read at the beginning of our genre study. Today I asked them to think about their own biography. I told them that one day someone will be writing their biography. I asked them what would they achieve to deserve their own biography.

Once upon a time this might have been an idle task, an attempt to inspire and motivate students that was somewhat hollow. Ten, twenty, thirty years ago, could I honestly ask these students to put themselves in Barack's shoes? Today I didn't feel my question was remotely fradulent, because today the myth of America was transformed into a reality.

Two students told me that they want to be President to help the poor people. Maverick told me he wants to be a math teacher. Verbal told me he wants to be a war hero and President.

At the end of the day we watched Barack's victory speech, and as the crowd chanted, the students chanted with them, "Yes, we can." As if that wasn't enough I played for them Will.I.Am's "Yes We Can" video. In a darkened classroom twenty-five poor kids from the Bronx sat enthralled by the words and music and as it ended we were all chanting, "Yes, we can. Yes, we can."

Is all of this incredibly cheesy? Perhaps. Do I care? Not today. Cynicism has a day off and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it.

Comments

Doug Stowe said…
It sounds like a great day. I appreciate your enthusiasm for teaching. And I am so hopeful for the future now that the idiot is leaving office. The quality of our speaking and writing reflects the quality of our thought (Orwell) and it is so nice to have a pres-elect who speaks well to the American people, and I am so excited.

Doug Stowe
http://wisdomofhands.blogspot.com
Angela Watson said…
Very sweet responses from your kids. Thanks for sharing. :-)

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