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GottaLetitgo said: I teach a freshman university seminar course at the college I work at. It's one of those classes where you learn about the campus history, alcohol responsibility, etc. Well, I told them the first day of class that I was a Prince fan and, like all the other classes I have taught before they ridiculed me. To an 18 year old (or most 18 year olds anyway) you might as well be up there talking about A Flock of Seagulls. Well, anyway I told them that all that was going on reminded me of my favorite Prince song, "Sign O The Times" and so I printed out the lyrics and played the song in class. I told them it came out the year that most of them were born and that nobody was singing about AIDS or crack or anything like that back then. I told them to consider the parallels in the song to what was going on now and they seem to get it. The Hurricane Annie line is all the more relevant of course in lieu of recent events. Some of them made fun of the song and one kid said it sounded like Michael. I told them that, um no it didn't and then went into a brief history of the rivalry between MJ and P in the 80's.
Didn't win any converts but at least I exposed them to a timeless and visionary song. I think I am going to play a Prince song in class every day from now on until I win over some new fans. It seems college students get dumber every year |
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kpowers said: GottaLetitgo said: I teach a freshman university seminar course at the college I work at. It's one of those classes where you learn about the campus history, alcohol responsibility, etc. Well, I told them the first day of class that I was a Prince fan and, like all the other classes I have taught before they ridiculed me. To an 18 year old (or most 18 year olds anyway) you might as well be up there talking about A Flock of Seagulls. Well, anyway I told them that all that was going on reminded me of my favorite Prince song, "Sign O The Times" and so I printed out the lyrics and played the song in class. I told them it came out the year that most of them were born and that nobody was singing about AIDS or crack or anything like that back then. I told them to consider the parallels in the song to what was going on now and they seem to get it. The Hurricane Annie line is all the more relevant of course in lieu of recent events. Some of them made fun of the song and one kid said it sounded like Michael. I told them that, um no it didn't and then went into a brief history of the rivalry between MJ and P in the 80's.
Didn't win any converts but at least I exposed them to a timeless and visionary song. I think I am going to play a Prince song in class every day from now on until I win over some new fans. It seems college students get dumber every year Hey! Does that mean i'm three times as dumb? 
  Dynamic Savior Said: Also, do you think that ugly people are God's cruel joke on humanity (like the platypus and the heterosexual) or another form of population control? | |
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GottaLetitgo said: I teach a freshman university seminar course at the college I work at. It's one of those classes where you learn about the campus history, alcohol responsibility, etc. Well, I told them the first day of class that I was a Prince fan and, like all the other classes I have taught before they ridiculed me. To an 18 year old (or most 18 year olds anyway) you might as well be up there talking about A Flock of Seagulls. Well, anyway I told them that all that was going on reminded me of my favorite Prince song, "Sign O The Times" and so I printed out the lyrics and played the song in class. I told them it came out the year that most of them were born and that nobody was singing about AIDS or crack or anything like that back then. I told them to consider the parallels in the song to what was going on now and they seem to get it. The Hurricane Annie line is all the more relevant of course in lieu of recent events. Some of them made fun of the song and one kid said it sounded like Michael. I told them that, um no it didn't and then went into a brief history of the rivalry between MJ and P in the 80's.
Didn't win any converts but at least I exposed them to a timeless and visionary song. I think I am going to play a Prince song in class every day from now on until I win over some new fans. Thank u  | |
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kpowers said: It seems college students get dumber every year totally resent that comment. | |
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GottaLetitgo said: Some of them made fun of the song and one kid said it sounded like Michael. I told them that, um no it didn't and then went into a brief history of the rivalry between MJ and P in the 80's.
Watch that poor guy get a D  | |
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Please discuss 'If I Was Your Girlfriend', 'America' and 'Pop Life' |
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SammiJ said: kpowers said: It seems college students get dumber every year totally resent that comment. "totally" |
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kpowers said: SammiJ said: totally resent that comment. "totally" no, "like totally."  | |
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This is the fammiest thread that I've ever read. If prince.org were to be made idiot proof, someone would just invent a better idiot. | |
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jasonstar said: This thread rocks for so many reasons! And the person who started it - has my TOTAL respect. I myself will probably one day be a college professor also. I am 20 years old (soon to be 21) and am big Prince fan. It saddens me that most people don't appreciate his music. You are doing something awesome and I hope your students appreciate you and also what you are doing for the sake of their music taste. I know I do! Rock on!!!
I co-sign the above. I respect what U did. I'm born in '72 and also think it's positive that we share the funk. P.S. I'm also a college lecture and also talk about Prince in class. Usually get the same drunken, hyena-like laughter, but, NE way.... | |
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Heiress said: kpowers said: "totally" no, "like totally." like oh my god your right |
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BEAUGARDE said: Please discuss 'If I Was Your Girlfriend', 'America' and 'Pop Life'
o yea the message songs, that'd be cool. play em stuff like money dont matter 2night, old friends for sale, united states of division, some rainbow children stuff, etc... those'll be some great discussions, u could even have them write papers on it Yesterday is dead...tomorrow hasnt arrived yet....i have just ONE day...
...And i'm gonna be groovy in it! | |
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Moonwalkbjrain said: BEAUGARDE said: Please discuss 'If I Was Your Girlfriend', 'America' and 'Pop Life'
o yea the message songs, that'd be cool. play em stuff like money dont matter 2night, old friends for sale, united states of division, some rainbow children stuff, etc... those'll be some great discussions, u could even have them write papers on it Dont say that, the man will get the bullet if his boss finds out that all the lessons/papers are geared towards prince songs. | |
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scandalousalan said: Moonwalkbjrain said: o yea the message songs, that'd be cool. play em stuff like money dont matter 2night, old friends for sale, united states of division, some rainbow children stuff, etc... those'll be some great discussions, u could even have them write papers on it Dont say that, the man will get the bullet if his boss finds out that all the lessons/papers are geared towards prince songs. thats true. it would rock if he was teachin something like english tho, but he could still get a way with it if ALL the lessons/papers weren't geared toward p. maybe 1 a week or 1 a month, but def. not ALL Yesterday is dead...tomorrow hasnt arrived yet....i have just ONE day...
...And i'm gonna be groovy in it! | |
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man i wish i had a teacher like u at skool!
none of my teachers tried 2 preach their musical beliefs on me, but i sure did preach it 2 them haha. man i miss skool and it hasnt even been a year since i left!!! but P is the shit u cant deny that! Receiving transmission from David Bowie's nipple antenna. Do you read me Lieutenant Bowie, I said do you read me...Lieutenant Bowie | |
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I taught English in a high school, but never used Prince... I had to use stuff they already knew to really get their attention... They were dying to understand those lyrics, anyway! J-Lo & the like. | |
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GottaLetitgo said: I teach a freshman university seminar course at the college I work at. It's one of those classes where you learn about the campus history, alcohol responsibility, etc. Well, I told them the first day of class that I was a Prince fan and, like all the other classes I have taught before they ridiculed me. To an 18 year old (or most 18 year olds anyway) you might as well be up there talking about A Flock of Seagulls. Well, anyway I told them that all that was going on reminded me of my favorite Prince song, "Sign O The Times" and so I printed out the lyrics and played the song in class. I told them it came out the year that most of them were born and that nobody was singing about AIDS or crack or anything like that back then. I told them to consider the parallels in the song to what was going on now and they seem to get it. The Hurricane Annie line is all the more relevant of course in lieu of recent events. Some of them made fun of the song and one kid said it sounded like Michael. I told them that, um no it didn't and then went into a brief history of the rivalry between MJ and P in the 80's.
Didn't win any converts but at least I exposed them to a timeless and visionary song. I think I am going to play a Prince song in class every day from now on until I win over some new fans. As an educator, I have to give it to you. You definitely took a bold step by intergrating P into the Curricula. I am pretty sure that the those uptight Departmental Heads gave you some flack. But, it's great that you expose kids to one of P's classics cuts. Besides, they need to know that there is more to music than what the media feeds then (Clear Channel, MTV). [Edited 9/6/05 1:30am] | |
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Out of all the threads I have started in a year in a half on the Org this has been one of my favorite to read the responses. Of course I stacked the deck here (I would assume that a lot of P fans would approve of Prince being played in a classroom) but the support and great comments in this thread made me really feel like I have done the right thing. The Department Head is the kind of guy who supports unorthodox and experiential methods of education (he is a film guy and shows modern movies to illustrate things) so I think he would be down with it. As much as I'm tempted to turn the class into Prince 101, I would or could not do that in lieu of teaching them college survival techniques, responsible sexual practices, etc. But I am going to use Prince and maybe some other artists to serve as an exclaimation point. If I get one of them ot a couple of them to dig the man after it is all said and done, that's cherry on top of the Sunday.
I would never indoctrinate views, political, religious, or musical. College is a time of discovery and I want them to have that. But I have kids in my class who might identify with my Prince fandom. For example, there is a kid in there who is a huge fan of a 90's alternative band and he has mentioned them like 10 times in discussions we have had. He should get me. On the other hand, I have kind of a loud jockish kid who likes to be the center of attention and he has been the one the most vocal about my Prince comments. (His comment: "I think you're a pretty cool guy but the Prince thing is kinda weird") if I could play something that he actually liked and he said so, in spite of his preconceptions, I would consider that a small victory. But, ultimately, the real victory will be getting these kids to learn how to study, how to pursue majors and career options, and how not to get an STD from a drunken one night stand. Thank everybody for your comments so far. Really cool, Org.  All good things they say never last... | |
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Need a song for the diversity lesson tomorrow. "Race" is a given but any other suggestions. All good things they say never last... | |
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GottaLetitgo said: Need a song for the diversity lesson tomorrow. "Race" is a given but any other suggestions.
Controversy. Max ...I go 2 the max...I'm not afraid...I wanna dance... | |
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GottaLetitgo said: Out of all the threads I have started in a year in a half on the Org this has been one of my favorite to read the responses. Of course I stacked the deck here (I would assume that a lot of P fans would approve of Prince being played in a classroom) but the support and great comments in this thread made me really feel like I have done the right thing. The Department Head is the kind of guy who supports unorthodox and experiential methods of education (he is a film guy and shows modern movies to illustrate things) so I think he would be down with it.
You're really fortuanate to be teaching at a facitlity with supportive and innovative Deparmental Chairs. I guess it all depends on the Univeristy your teaching at their Board Of Trustees. | |
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GottaLetitgo said: Need a song for the diversity lesson tomorrow. "Race" is a given but any other suggestions.
dear mr man or cinnamon girl Yesterday is dead...tomorrow hasnt arrived yet....i have just ONE day...
...And i'm gonna be groovy in it! | |
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HamsterHuey said: Play Head!
Or Sister! Yeah! OR JackUoff! | |
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Moonwalkbjrain said: GottaLetitgo said: Need a song for the diversity lesson tomorrow. "Race" is a given but any other suggestions.
dear mr man or cinnamon girl  Better yet, he could have his class write an essay about the Cinnamon Girl Video.[Edited 9/6/05 21:11pm] | |
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MadameS said: Moonwalkbjrain said: dear mr man or cinnamon girl Better yet, he could have his class write an essay about the Cinnamon Girl Video.
[Edited 9/6/05 21:11pm] that would be sooo coool...god i wish i was in that class Yesterday is dead...tomorrow hasnt arrived yet....i have just ONE day...
...And i'm gonna be groovy in it! | |
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Moonwalkbjrain said: MadameS said: Better yet, he could have his class write an essay about the Cinnamon Girl Video.
[Edited 9/6/05 21:11pm] that would be sooo coool...god i wish i was in that class Too bad I'm not teaching high school anymore... I'd STEAL that idea. | |
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