“Talk the talk - Could be a revelation"
Talk the Talk/Mr. Mister
When I was a sophomore in high school, I took an elective class called “Current Issues.” It was taught by a young, very pretty teacher named Mrs. Ferraro. I feel fairly confident in saying that, for most of the boys, she was the reason we were there.
Regardless, the class consisted of us the students, discussing and debating what was happening in the news - world, national, state and local. Guided by Mrs. Ferraro, we argued the hot topics of the day. There were plenty to be had. There was the trauma of the Vietnam War in its waning months; The Watergate scandal was the lead story on every paper's front page and every news broadcast. The Roe v Wade decision had just been handed down by the Supreme Court, the Opec Oil Embargo was in full swing and gasoline rationing was in effect. Vice President Agnew resigned from office in disgrace. The American Indian Movement occupied Wounded Knee, and on and on.
Two things were necessary to participate in the class. First, we needed to know what was actually going on out there in the big wide world. Second, we had to form some kind of opinion about those topics and then, hopefully, articulate aloud a semi-cogent argument for our beliefs.
For me, it was an early lesson in realizing that I can have all kinds of ideas and justifications in my head about a given subject, but when I voice them aloud, they may not be as coherent as I thought. The benefit of debate is in learning what it is you actually believe.
I don't remember anything other than lively but civil discussions and not one ounce of classroom discord. We just talked it out and then went on to third period when the bell rang. Cool. I was mostly an indifferent student in those years but I loved that class. Frankly, it's the only high school class that I can recall with any degree of clarity.
Here's the thing, do you think there's a class offered to students anywhere in America like “Current Issues” now? If there is, I'd be pleased to know about it. If I were a betting man I wouldn't wager one thin dime that there is. Too bad for us.
I wonder what ever happened to Mrs. Ferraro?
Birthdays in Music: Nobody we know.
Name That Movie: “It ain't got no gas in it.”