"If politics brings out the worst in people; maybe people bring out the best..."

Senator Jerry Moran, R-Kansas
BTW-I have a couple classroom pictures but the blogger program is not playing nice in the sandbox.
Will post as soon as it lets me

When I see and adult in the hallway at school, my first thought is parents and so I was going through my mental roldex to figure out who this man walking up to my collegues and me. Then I recognized him ...

US Senator Jerry Moran stopped by my classroom unannounced. I had written him about a missed chance to meet him while in Washington DC and he decided to visit me instead. He said mine was one of nicest 'disgruntled' letters he had seen and so wanted to contact me. He had a little extra time that morning and so stopped by. 

No warning. No entourage.

To say I was suprised would be an understatement. On the first day back, before my first hour ...

The senator then spent my first hour chatting with my students about being a public servant. He talked about his family, school, and his new roles as one of the leaders of the Senate. He was gracious and self-depricating and my kids, in the first few minutes back from holiday break, were fascinated.

I know we blather on about partisan politics and dysfunction and he acknowledged the messiness of elections and governing. But you also got the honor he felt in public service. He reminded me that we can look at politics in a crass and cynical manner. We can also look at it from the standpoint of public servants qenuinely trying to both balance their ideals at the same time trying to discern and do the will of the people who trusted them enough to elect them.

Easily one of my favorite movies of all time.

 

Mr. Smith makes me think of fillubuster and I can't think fillibuster without this clip from West Wing.

As a grandfather, I concur.

To be honest, I had Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in my mind all day as a result. I know political neophytes will see me as a Polyanna and I know there are harsh realities to politics and governing, but they can sit down and shut their pie holes as I wax philosophically on why public servants serve. I honestly believe you don't go through what elected officials go through in order to play Machiavelli. Senator Moran proved my point yesterday.

I was so glad my kids got to meet Senator Moran.

I was so glad I got to meet him.

National Oratory Fellow--the 'humblebrag'

I have been trying to figure out what to do with my blog. I initially set it up to show students what I'm up to as I travel on professional development trips over the past years. I've also used it to muse on things 'edumacational' with colleagues and friends. But I wondered if the blog, which was named for the three documents I studied as a member of the Presidential Academy in 2011 (Declaration of Independence, The Gettysburg Address, King's I Have a Dream), had become obsolete. The school's new website has a blog option for me and teaching is a marathon for ten months. I was pretty sure having two nearly identical sites would be a waste of time...

...and then ...

... last summer, while I was at Ford's Theater for the Civil War Washington Teaching Fellowship, I was encouraged to apply for their National Oratory Fellowship. I applied and was notified this week that I selected! I will tell you I am honored and encouraged at my selection...

...but

...I am more excited for my students. This fellowship is different than others I've seen. It will teach me how to incorporate oratory into classwork and connect me with a cadre of other teachers doing the same thing. However, it also brings teaching actors into my classroom to work with my students! DC actors working via video conferencing with my students, how cool is that?! In addition, two of my charges will be selected to perform their works (either an interpretation of a famous speech or an original oration of their own) on the stage at Ford's Theater! The box in that photo up top is where the podium will be in May! I've used a KU reference with my kids. It's like playing basketball on the court at Allen Fieldhouse. It will be an honor they will remember for the rest of their lives.

So...

...this blog, like a good Christmas present, is getting a 'regifting'. We are going to use this site specifically for 'speechifying', and I want to ask your help. I will post regularly what the kids are doing and about the fellowship but every once and a while I want to ask for your help.

Request #1:
If you had to recommend a speech to a 13-14 year old, what would it be? Answer in the comments section. You don't have to be a member if you don't want to. Just give me your first name, okay.

Here are a couple videos I found on YouTube. The first is a documentary on the oratory program. It looks different than this now, but you get to see the process. The second is a young man from Maryland--I've watched this piece several times and continue to find new things I like about this oration.