Oh, I needed that morning break.  A group of us met Matt at 10:30 for church.  We got off the subway right at the church and walked in a couple minutes before the service started.  Perfect timing.  There was plenty of room, but that could be because there is not air conditioning.  I bet they would have a larger congregation if they took care of that little problem.  Well, I sat in front of the fan.  I’d rather have the windblown look then sit there and sweat through the entire service.  It was a nice service and we were on our way right at noon.  We decided to grab a quick bite and head over to the museum.  If only we’d known. 

The museum was beautiful.  The early American art was immaculant.  My students will be surprised by the fact that Paul Revere was more than just a messanger and that he was actually a blacksmith and from I saw, a very good one.  I was quite impressed with that wonderfully detailed teapot.  That fact, and that I saw the actual Rocky statue may just leave them speechless especially when I provide proof. 

What is really important to me is to build background knowledge.   I honestly think that my students think I am making some stuff up.  When I tell them about all of these great stories in history, they either look at me with eyes glazed over or they have a kind of questioning look on their faces.  It just isn’t in their mental banks.  I can compare it to the analogy that Carol Berkin gave me about feminism in the colonial period.  It would be like a 9 year old standing up today and saying I have rights and I demand to be treated like an equal.  That gave me a better perspective on things.  I have to always remember to put as many deposits into that background bank as I can.  One way is to show my students a picture of the front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  WOW!  The enormous structure was not what I had pictured.  Check out the people in front.  They’re like little ants.  That puts things in perspective.