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So said one of my students today, as we studied Patrick Henry's famous "Give Me Liberty, or Give Me DEATH!" speech for historical content and rhetorical speech techniques.
"Yeah, I'd rather skip school too than die from boredom from this stuff..." said another. Many of my classes rolled their eyes or looked so bored as I read aloud Henry's speech, even with the dramatic way I do it. I powered through the lecture notes, and I obtained compliance, but not understanding.
I tried so very hard to reach the kiddos today, and feel that I failed to connect. I worked SO HARD! and no one cared.
"Yeah, I'd rather skip school too than die from boredom from this stuff..." said another. Many of my classes rolled their eyes or looked so bored as I read aloud Henry's speech, even with the dramatic way I do it. I powered through the lecture notes, and I obtained compliance, but not understanding.
I tried so very hard to reach the kiddos today, and feel that I failed to connect. I worked SO HARD! and no one cared.
no subject
Date: 2010-11-04 08:41 pm (UTC)Sadly, the American Revolution is far enough away historically that it can be hard to get students to understand what the problem was. *sigh*
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Date: 2010-11-04 08:44 pm (UTC)Maybe you should sign it as well?
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Date: 2010-11-04 08:55 pm (UTC)As for today - "Liberty" is such a nebulous concept. Do you think they'd be interested in the specific things that riled up our forefathers? (Taxes on luxuries, forbidden to keep weapons, forced to give quarters and food to the passing British enforcers, etc?)
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Date: 2010-11-04 09:43 pm (UTC)I think you do a great job. This just sounds like a tough crowd, is all.
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Date: 2010-11-05 12:58 am (UTC)