My experience in HST 480 (W) ...

My experience in HST 480 (W) was a positive although I may have been viewed as a negative. Dr. K. shared with us his knowledge of history, to go into the history and come away with an understanding not normally seen by the average eye. The one thing I came away from his class with was to “pull out what you need” as I read and prepared for the group project. Dr. K. did a tremendous job of instructing us, and there were times, I felt I not only let myself down, but him as well. The entire project of researching, digging deeper, to learn about the past, to learn about how people respond to the past, and how they move forward are lessons I learned from my classmates in the course, and I enjoyed watching them go through the process.

As I said before, ...

As I said before, I am putting a twist to Dr. K’s example on the individual project page. I decided I would venture into the world of sports entertainment, i.e. professional wrestling. I chose the topic: African-American Professional Wrestlers’ Struggle for Acceptance in White America. I have found numerous books at the MSU Library. Yes, the MSU Library has books on professional wrestling. I have access to multiple Web sites devoted to professional wrestling, showcasing photographs and posters. I can see an exhibit showing numerous wrestling posters and photographs and fliers along one wall. On another wall, I see lined with robes and boots and trunks of African American wrestlers and managers. In one corner, a section of a ring with posts and ropes and steel steps. I now must get Dr. K’s stamp of approval and write this thing within the next several days! Here goes!

My individual project idea ...

My individual project idea is ... The suspense. … The drama. … The idea. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I was interested in many things: theatre, sports such as baseball, and sports entertainment, i.e. professional wrestling. Well, the more I thought about the project, the more I saw myself leaning toward professional wrestling. Then, I re-read the project instructions. I liked the example Dr. K gave of Henry Aaron, and Bam! (My apologies to Emeril Lagasse!) I am working toward African American professional wrestlers and their struggles to gain acceptance in professional wrestling, i.e. sports entertainment, throughout the United States of America. The resources are available at the MSU Library, and I have access to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and its resources on its Web site (http://www.wwe.com/). A month ago, I was dead in the water. I had NOTHING! Now, I feel a little bit better about myself, and I feel I can whip something up over the next few days. I am confident I can achieve a strong proposal and paper for my individual project.

As the semester nears its end, ...

As the semester nears its end, I have nothing! At the start of the semester, I fell behind. I desperately tried to catch up, and now, as we enter the home stretch, I have nothing. I have an idea, but I am afraid to share it. I know I should, but the way this semester has gone, I do not think I can. It is just frustration. I hope as the day goes on, I will come away with a more definite plan of attack, and I have something for tomorrow because I must spend the entire day in the library, gathering and organizing and writing something worthwhile. I need a strong grade, and I hate the position I have put myself in HST 480 (W). ... Grrr!!!

My individual project: additional thoughts ...

I am leaning toward creating a traveling exhibit for sports entertainment, i.e. professional wrestling. I must take the time to re-read the individual project information and try to see what I need to create such a project. I feel confident I can get the work done over the next two weeks and present something worthwhile for History 480 (W) and Dr. K. I will spend the weekend, trying to gather the necessary information and preparing a solid argument for the assignment.

My individual project ...

I have the entire individual project … in my head! I know that is not the answer Dr. K wants, and I know that. My interests range the mundane to the off-the-wall. From baseball to the theatre to the arts to sports entertainment, i.e. professional wrestling, I have a variety of interests. I want to do something with baseball, but professional wrestling is my “silent” love. If the idea is to put together a traveling museum exhibit, either baseball or sports entertainment would provide numerous experiences, i.e. personal histories, memorabilia, photographs, historic film archives, and living legends. I am going to prepare something Tuesday night, Wednesday, and hopefully; I can present something to my colleagues and Dr. K Thursday morning. If all goes well, I can attack this project and produce something credible and worthwhile. Here goes nothing!

The team project ...

I must admit. I am taken by the initiative of each member of our classroom. Last week, we really picked up the pace and seemed to have the momentum needed to complete this project. Then, why do I feel like such an outsider? There is so much more on my mind than class assignments, papers, projects. I feel like a floundering fish on the banks after being flung out of the water and placed on the dirt without care or regard for my well-being. I am contributing thoughts and ideas in class, and I know I should be blogging more, but my mind is elsewhere. I know I can do more, but time is running out. Yet, I am amazed at the work my younger colleagues are achieving. I feel once this project is done, the MHC should be proud of the effort put forth by everyone in HST 480 (W).

Our second visit to the Michigan Historical Center ...

Our second visit to the Michigan Historical Center seemed more decided Thursday than our first visit. Yes, granted, the first visit was to inform us, let us know about the individuals involved in the project, etc.; I just felt the second visit gave our assignment a purpose, a pulse. I know as I walked through the exhibits, I saw so many things that could make this I-496 project work.

I like the use of video. I feel a 3- or 4-minute video presentation on a loop could allow both school children and adults a visual interpretation of the events that occurred during this time period. I feel this would give the visitors a sense of what occurred in Lansing and how this highway changed Lansing and mid-Michigan to what it is today.

I like the idea of physical objects. I know I joked the other day about a bulldozer, but what better way to give importance – grab attention – than a multiple-ton bulldozer that cleared homes, gravel, and dirt away to create I-496. I don’t know if a bulldozer is possible, but maybe something smaller, something that would show the numerous visitors the importance of the highway, and the changes that occurred over time.

I like this project. I hope we settle Tuesday and move forward. The possibilities for the I-496 project are endless, but I feel we are in a better place now than before.

Building a Better Teacher ... Seriously?!?

Seriously?!? ... Elizabeth Green’s “Building a Better Teacher.” Why not ask if we can build a better country. Oh, wait, that’s happening right now as I type. I may be the wrong person to answer such a question since I started in March, 1998, looking for a full-time teaching position. I do know I do not – and have not – cared for the “No Child Left Behind” act. I have always felt teachers were behind the eight-ball even before this act was initiated several years ago. I do know that the teachers who care about their students go above and beyond to provide the necessary instruction for their learning experience. But their efforts are veiled behind administrators who seek the bigger picture for their school districts.

Having spent more than enough time in high school classrooms, I understand the dilemma many are facing today: crowded classrooms, less time for one-on-one teaching, more time dealing with disciplinary issues, and so on. I also watch from afar as school districts struggle to find money to ease its workload for faculty and staff and improve its school community. Many communities feel their districts are prepared for every-day learning; yet, those same communities never truly see what is happening in the classes on a daily basis. The frustration of the good teachers forces many of them out of the profession, while those considered weak continue on because they may not have other opportunities.

I coached a season of varsity baseball at Lansing-Everett in 2007, and an assistant coach told our team – during a turbulent early-season practice – he had not met someone who cared about them as much as Coach Plum did in such a short period of time. I am one of those individuals who actually cares about the student and cares about the student’s well-being. I want children to succeed and to better themselves. I want to succeed as a teacher, don’t get me wrong, but as someone who wants to help others, the students are more important than my success. I am only one person, but I am one person who gives his all for his students.

I applaud Elizabeth Green for her article, and I applaud Doug Lemov for his classroom efforts. Yet, I see more work is needed to be done. Many of the techniques illustrated in the article, I have utilized before or used similar techniques in a classroom setting. Many of the techniques are common sense. However, common sense is out the window in our country. As long as wars continue to rage overseas and health-care issues highlight the evening news, our schools will continue to suffer and poor teachers will continue to teach our children. Our “No Child Left Behind” may become our “No Good Teachers Left.”

Interactive exhibit ...

I realize my suggestion for a bulldozer for the I-496 exhibit received little fanfare notwithstanding one chuckle, I believe something like that would benefit the message we are trying to share with the community. As a visual learner, I feel it is important to give the public something to grasp and to touch as they go through the exhibit. Whatever path we go down, it must incorporate some type of visual portion to give the public an idea of the significance I-496 had on Lansing. I would like to take and create a revolving photo essay of the community before the construction, during the construction and after the construction. I would also like to have a computer-generated model of the community, showing people where businesses, schools, churches, etc., were and giving the people a visual image of the changes that occurred during this time in Lansing’s history.

Catching up ...

I am slowly, but surely catching up with some of the readings. I hope to have some thoughts, ideas, etc., posted Feb. 23. ... I don't know about the rest of you, but I am finding a lot of similar thoughts throughout the readings. ... More to come. ...

Over the next couple of days, ...

Over the next couple of days, I intend to have items posted on our Wikispaces as well as blog on several of the readings. Again, I appreciate everyone's patience with me.

I-496 Web site ...

I know Dr. K has not separated us into the two groups yet, but I would like to make my plea to be on the Web site design team. Since I just earned my Master of Arts in Educational Technology, I feel this would be a good project to put on my résumé as I search for a full-time career. I have an idea where we could take images (if available) of the land prior to construction, during construction, and final construction and have the images merge from one to another on the Web site. Somewhere, I know that is possible. Again, that is only an idea, and hopefully, we can run with that image.

I would like to apologize. ...

I would like to apologize. I have not had the start of the semester that I thought I would. I am behind, but I am making every effort to get back up to speed. As for speed, my Internet connection is not where it should be, and I am not on-line as much as I should be at home. Therefore, I plan to upgrade ASAP, and I will begin a more earnest effort in my class work. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

I am stepping away from school work for a moment. ...

I am stepping away from school work for a moment. … On Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, I faced the worst of times, and the best of times. I attended a memorial service for a former Addison (Mich.) High School classmate’s father. My friend Pat Mitchell’s father Bill was an avid outdoorsman, and Bill and Pat shared a strong appreciation of the outdoors and hunting. Bill was nearest my dad when I hit my first grand slam as a switch-hitting sophomore in 1987, and he celebrated with my dad. As a member of the Board of Education, Bill told people there were certain graduating students he wanted to hand the diploma to during graduation, and I was one of those students. After Bill’s service, I celebrated my dad’s upcoming 70th birthday with him and my mom Judy at Bob Evans in Adrian, Mich. My dad Richard turns 70 on Monday. My dad and I share a great appreciation of sports, and I joke that my dad is a walking historian of local sports knowledge from Lenawee, Hillsdale, and Jackson counties. Since June 2009, each faced cancer. My dad was diagnosed in June with prostrate cancer. He endured a surgery in August, and he has returned to his normal lifestyle. Bill was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September, and he died Saturday, Jan. 30. I hate the loss of good people, and Bill was a good person. How come my dad was fortunate, and Bill was not? We will never know that answer; however, it sure makes a day like today feel bittersweet to me.

Sparty ...

Jeffrey R. Plum
HST 480
Jan. 12, 2010

The statue of Sparty located on W. Circle Drive.

What questions would any visitor ask about this site?
1. Who is Sparty?
2. Why is the statue located at W. Circle Drive?
3. Why is Sparty so tall?
4. What does the statue represent someone?
5. Who built the statue of Sparty?

What questions would an historian ask about this site?
1. What is the significance of Sparty to Michigan State University?
2. Who invested the time to create the statue of Sparty and why?
3. Why is the statue important to those who attend or attended MSU?
4. What does the statue represent to those who attended and currently attend MSU?
5. As a rallying point, how can a statue bring people together during tough times?

The String Doctors

I happened to catch the final 20 minutes of Backstage Pass Thursday with Dr. K's group: The String Doctors. I was very impressed with each member of the group. Dr. K plays a mean fiddle! No joke! The bass player did a great job, too. Of the music I heard, I thought the group performed well, and the backstage conversations were hilarious! ... I am making strides to catch up and be on par with everyone by Tuesday. I hope to have more up soon!

Stan Abrahams's Walk Through District Six

Stan Abrahams’s Walk Through District Six is a riveting tale. How he was able to go through a neighborhood no longer there and recall the people, the buildings, the events; the significance of District Six is truly amazing. How other human beings could be so cold and callous to others is beyond me, but Abrahams is able to share with people of the world the history of his neighborhood which I found truly heroic. I may have to go through the steps again to watch his walk. I know there is more to talk about, but I was intrigued how he and the others were able to piece together their lost neighborhood through photographs, written words and memories. A remarkable effort from all of those involved in their cherished neighborhood.