heroic_jawline: (stony: see we talk)
[personal profile] heroic_jawline
Well, why not start off with a bang and a portal trip out to Massachusetts? More specifically, to Bunker Hill.

"Hello, everyone! I'm Tony Stark," Tony began before glancing over to Steve.

"And I'm Steve Rogers," Steve said with a earnest-to-slightly-dorky wave at the students. "I'm also known as Captain America in some universes." And that almost explained their US History class! "Welcome to Massachusetts. Thirteen colonies on the North American continent that we now call the United States of America declared their independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. This national park is a monument to the Battle of Bunker Hill, which took place more than a year before that."

"While this battle was considered a victory for British forces, it marked a turning point in how seriously both the rebelling colonists and British took the rebellion due to the higher number of casualties on the British side," Tony added. "It's also said to be the battle where someone told the rebels: 'Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes.'"

"Which is pretty good advice when you were firing a rifle made in the 1700s," Steve admitted. "They only worked half the time. Of the 2400 British soldiers and Marines in the battle, more than a thousand were killed or wounded. The rebels only had about 1200 fighters. So while tactically, yes, the British retained this hill at the end of the battle, the morale of the undefeated British Empire took a significant hit. It also led the colonies to realize that they might just be good enough shots to give a full-scale revolution a try."

"So, let's explore both the museum and then onto the monument itself," Tony suggested.
tyler_gone: (manic fists)
[personal profile] tyler_gone
"This is it," Tyler announced once everybody was in the classroom and sitting in their assigned pairs. "At the end of this class, history is over."

Sometimes, he thought he was funny.

"From here on out, you'll have to deal with the here and now." Well, Algren was amused, at any rate. "Marks, for example, are a relatively important chunk of the present, aren't they? Those final assignments aren't history just yet."

It was possible that this lecture was going to consist mostly of bad jokes containing the word 'history.' The students would have to cope, somehow.

"Anemone and Cal, you're up first," Tyler said, solemn. "We trust you to make history."

[OOC: Preplayed with the beautiful [livejournal.com profile] shinoi_tiger. Teams can tag in to present in any order -- the order shown is for IC purposes only. That said, uh, please don't do anything major that teams after you would have to react to unless you're the last team.]
tyler_gone: (perfectly sane)
[personal profile] tyler_gone
"Hey," Tyler greeted from atop his desk once most of the students seemed to be there. "Wipe last week from your memories. If you ask us about it, congratulations, that's a detention. This is a research week for your final project. We have to cover from 1975 to the present day. I was going to talk about President Obama, but that means skipping over a couple of decades and we've already skipped a lot. So we decided to be kind and let you guys teach the last 35 years."

Generous, wasn't it?

He hopped off his desk and started roaming the classroom, handing out slips of paper listing assignments. "Most of you are paired up, but there's one group of three, and you've all been assigned five-year time periods from 1975 to now. Each team gets to research their assigned era and selecting a major historic event or trend from that time to discuss. The rest of this class period is yours to prepare. I warned Miss Kishi in the library that we might be coming, if you want to head down there and start on your research, or you could go to the computer lab. If you do that, remember, I know how to use Wikipedia too. Be prepared to give an original five-minute presentation next week."

A beat. "This is all pretty recent, so don't decide to focus on anything where huge numbers of innocent people died. It doesn't tend to go over very well. Questions?"

"Here's a hint," Algren tossed in, for good measure, "if you think somebody from the Civil War era who has been horribly misplaced might want to learn it in order to catch up with the times, do, please, tell him. But be sure to break it to the poor man gently. He's old and possibly senile, after all."

Algren was allowed to poke a little fun at himself, dammit. He'd spent far too much time in the past two weeks wearing women's clothing.

[OOC: Preplayed with [livejournal.com profile] shinoi_tiger.]
shiroi_tiger: (Gremlin Bite: Scooby Gang)
[personal profile] shiroi_tiger
"Jinkies guys!" Tony Velma said, adjusting what looked like a pair of glasses he found on his way over to the classroom. "We've got a mystery on our hands!"

"Oh, gee," Nathan Daphne added, throwing in something that may or may not have been a swoon as he weaved closer to ... Tyler. "What should we investigate first? The old, haunted mansion? Maybe we should talk to the gardener to find out if he's seen anything!"

Because the creepy gardeners always had the best clues. Really.

"Zoinks!" said Steve Shaggy.

"We're trying to solve the mysterious break-in at the Watergate Hotel!" Tyler Fred explained, then adjusted his neckerchief self-importantly.

It was a very impressive neckerchief. )

[So many thanks to [livejournal.com profile] screwyoumarvel and [livejournal.com profile] not_ironmaiden for contributing their beautiful crack to today's class.]
shiroi_tiger: (Something)
[personal profile] shiroi_tiger
Algren was more than just a little distracted today as the students filed into the classroom. Tyler seemed to be MIA today, and he didn't know the subject matter from atom.

That, and there were zombies. There were about a million reasons for him to be distracted about the zombies, first and foremost being that he was pretty certain if they'd showed up on Fandom, it was his own fault for not making damn sure that they couldn't.

"Movie day," he announced, backing his way toward the door. "Please, stay here and watch the movie for the entire period, where it's safe."

He hit the right button on the DVD player only by some miracle, and a fantastic documentary of the time period around the Vietnam War started to play. And then he rushed out of the room.
tyler_gone: (Try me)
[personal profile] tyler_gone
"Today is guest lecture day," Tyler announced after the students were more or less in their seats. If the class had eyes, they would have already noticed there was a third man with their teachers this morning, so, really, he was just confirming the obvious. But he wasn't feeling great; it was a good day for stating the obvious and reading from his notecards. "And, as your syllabus will tell you, it's also World War II day."

So Tyler Durden, Nathan Algren and Steve Rogers walk into a classroom... )
tyler_gone: (Try me)
[personal profile] tyler_gone
Tyler was feeling lazy this week. Lazy, lazy, lazy. "The Great Depression," he began, without preamble. "A lot like what we have now, except people couldn't write blogs about how much being laid off sucked and there were more soup lines. Lasted from the stock market crash of 1929 until World War II. Here's a handout about the whole thing, and we're going to watch a movie. It's set in Mississippi during the Great Depression."

This totally made it educational. He poked at the DVD player, cuing up "My Friend, Whither Dost Thou Go?"

When the movie ended, Algren stood, nodding to the class. If he seemed somewhat skeptical about the educational content in the movie, he kept that mostly to himself.

"Your homework this week," he intoned, "is to economize in some way and tell us what you did next week. Did you switch to the cheaper store-brand food? Did you skip out on seeing a movie you wanted to see on opening night in favor of the matinee? It doesn't have to be much, but it does have to be something."
shiroi_tiger: (Captain)
[personal profile] shiroi_tiger
"World War I started for Europe in June, 1914," Tyler said, once the class seemed to be assembled and relatively quiet. They were meeting in the danger shop today, with a row of chairs at long tables arranged in front of flight simulators. "Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated by a Serbian anarchist." There was the trace of a smirk at that bit of information. "Anyhow, so that lead the Austrian empire to make demands against Serbia, which lead to a bunch of alliances throughout Europe. It's like dominoes falling into place. Russia mobilized troops against Germany, and by August all of the biggest countries in Europe were at each other's throats. Here is a handout about the whole thing, if you want to read how it all went down."

And The Rest Is History! )

[OCD is up! Have at thee!]
tyler_gone: (really rather intense)
[personal profile] tyler_gone
The teachers were back from their vacation, and, if they looked slightly less well-rested than the students, that was to be expected.

The students, after all, had not spent any part of the cruise being attacked by Nazi bees.

"Labor unions," Tyler said briskly, once everyone who was coming seemed to be in a seat and relatively quiet, "are our subject of the day as we get to the turn of the 20th century. This is the time when unions arguably had their greatest influence over American life. We have a handout for you because it is a lot to go through in an hour, but we'll try to talk through some of the high points."

Labor unions are MADE OF BEES. )

The activity? Also FULL OF BEEEEEEEES. )
shiroi_tiger: (Pleasant Conversation)
[personal profile] shiroi_tiger
The Danger Shop was back to its normal classroom configuration today, and the teachers were at the front, arms folded, possibly looking smug.

Thirty-six hours until Vegas, after all. And if other difficulties were getting to them ... well, they weren't going to think about that in the classroom.

"Our first order of business is an extra credit presentation from Mr. Stephanides, and then, midterm dioramas," Tyler announced, once the students seemed to have quieted. "If you've never made a diorama, they are three-dimensional models, often depicting buildings or historical events. And, this week, you're going to make them for any topic covered this far in class -- or anything you think we should have covered that we skipped over. Here is a handout showing how some fancy ones come together. Yours don't have to be fancy."

"We've got a table with things like bits of cardboard," Algren added, arms crossed over his chest, "empty shoeboxes, glue, safety scissors, and other assorted bric-a-brac for you to toss together. There's probably a plastic buffalo or two if you look hard enough. Please, try to refrain from gluing the popsicle sticks up your nose, as tempting as it might be. It just means paperwork for us if we have to take you to the clinic."

Tyler stopped at that to look at his co-teacher. He wasn't sure they were the demographic to glue popsicle sticks to themselves, but if warnings were being issued .... "And do not be a dumbass and run with scissors, either. We get a week off after this class is over. If you really want to spend some of it in the clinic, wait until after last period Friday."

He made a vague shooing gesture at the students. "Get to it. We're here if you sniff too many markers and pass out."

[OCD on the way up, have at it!]
shiroi_tiger: (Hrmph)
[personal profile] shiroi_tiger
Students might have noticed that, instead of that stuffy old classroom, their History class was being held in the Danger Shop today, where there was a table with a selection of peanuts, Cracker Jack, and soft drinks for the students to help themselves to at their leisure. Beyond the table, there was a simple wooden bench, and then a field, with a decent amount of flat space that eventually gave way into rolling hills and forest area.

Captain Nathan Algren of the 7th Cavalry was standing with his arms crossed nearby, once again wearing his blue uniform. He watched the students file in without a word, an eyebrow arched upward. Tyler had faded far, far into the background this week; he knew this was Nathan's story to tell, and he wasn't sure what he could add beyond offering his presence.

And The Rest Is History! )

[Play ball!]
shiroi_tiger: (Hrmph)
[personal profile] shiroi_tiger
When students filed into the classroom today, they might notice that Algren wasn't wearing his usual brown duster coat. Instead, he was clad in a blue military uniform, carefully clean and highly decorated but with his coat left unbuttoned, with his hands clasped behind his back. He wasn't pacing the front of the room today, either. Instead, he was simply standing, not quite at attention, not quite at ease, observing the faces of the people passing through the doorway.

Today, he took a deeper breath than usual before he began to speak.

And The Rest Is History! )
tyler_gone: (at desk)
[personal profile] tyler_gone
"Manifest Destiny," Algren said, launching into the lecture the moment the last student's butt hit their seat. Tyler stood back and observed this week; it was clear to him that Algren had the subject well in hand.

"The American ideology that saw us believing that not only was our nation destined to expand clear across the continent, but it was also ordained by God Himself." He clasped his hands behind his back, a gesture that was probably growing familiar by now, and paced in front of the class as he spoke. "Some people took it farther, believing that it meant more than simply expanding from sea to shining sea. The term was also used from time to time to refer to the eventual conquest of the continent as a whole. Canada, Mexico, Cuba, and Central America. Clearly, we Americans have simple desires. We only want everything, after all."

"While the notion of Manifest Destiny was popularized in the 1840s, it wasn't where America's major expansion really began. Roughly a quarter of our nation was actually attained in 1803 in the Louisiana Purchase, when Thomas Jefferson, the American President at the time, struck up a deal with Napoleon Bonaparte, the ruler of France. The deal consisted of portions of fifteen current states and two Canadian provinces, and cost us, between money paid and French debts forgiven, $15,000,000." Algren quirked an eyebrow upward slightly and smirked. "Lunch money, considering it worked out to less than three cents per acre of land in the currency of the day."

He frowned thoughtfully, and then leaned backward against the desk.

"Of course, for all that the land was now legally the property of America, all that was really purchased was the right to take the land away from someone else. After all, there were people in America long before anyone thought to call it 'America,' and the American Indians weren't so much as informed that the sale had taken place. It would be, essentially, as though some man who lives somewhere down the street just up and selling your house to your annoying new next door neighbor. And now they would like you to leave. It's their house now, after all."

"Which brings us to our assignment for today. At the back of the room, you will find a couch. There's only enough room on that couch for so many of you. Half of the class will fit, and I want that half to all get up onto it right now. Stand on it. Shoulder-to-shoulder, make it work. The rest of you? That's your couch that they're standing on. Really. Pair off with someone that's up there and try to convince them to leave. You'll be armed with these Nerf guns, here. That ought to make your conquest nice and simple, right?"

"Don't put anybody's eye out," Tyler chimed in for the first time as he went to hand the Nerf guns to the students who were getting them. "Other than that, this is a free-for-all."
shiroi_tiger: (Sitting)
[personal profile] shiroi_tiger
When students filed into the Danger Shop, they would find themselves in the front room of a large colonial home. Algren, who was, yes, fully clothed thank you very much, seemed almost worryingly amused as he waited for everyone to settle in. He started speaking even as the students were sitting down and thawing out.

And The Rest Is History! )

[OCD is up! Run wild!]
shiroi_tiger: (Is that so?)
[personal profile] shiroi_tiger
Tyler was dressed in a ratty Fandom High t-shirt and sweatpants today, and he'd had to resist the urge to add a whistle.

"So, contrary to what I'm wearing, you didn't end up in Professor Dex's class," he informed the students. "You're still in U.S. history, and this week we start to actually discuss history. Radical concept, I know. Anyhow, we are looking at the first explorers through Columbus. I hope none of you still buy the idea Columbus started it all."

Algren, still dressed in his usual attire, looked a little on the amused side. His clothes were safe, for the time being. He didn't know how to use a washing machine.

And The Rest Is History! )

[Please wait for the OCD is up!]
shiroi_tiger: (Intent)
[personal profile] shiroi_tiger
When students entered the classroom today, they would find not one, but two men standing at the front. One of them was probably familiar to some of them, the other one was a new face... Although his wardrobe probably needed a little updating.

And The Rest Is History! )

[OCD is up! Class roster, rules, and syllabus are located here!]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Chuck was already there when the bell rang. He surveyed the class, taking in their faces, and feeling true joy in the thought that he might never have to see any of them ever again. )

[OOC: Last class...*sniff sniff*]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Chuck came into class, late as usual.

"Today's a review day, before the exam. If you have any questions, ask them now, because I don't want to have to talk to any of you next week."

He really loved his students. You can see it in his eyes, feel it in the kindness of his words.

ooc: Half a moment... Go!
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Chuck entered the class seconds after the bell rang, pulling along a TV cart. He spoke to the students as he set it up.

“Last semester, we watched an episode of The Colbert Report. I was planning on recording one last night, but with the recent writers’ strike, it seemed a waste to rerecord a rerun. So I’ve used the episode from last year, where our vice principal was fortunate enough to be interviewed.”

Once the lights were off, Mr. Noblet hit play on the DVD, and the video started.

The Colbert Report )

Chuck switched off the video. “Okay, we have time for a short discussion before the bell rings. Questions?”

[ooc: Stephen’s interview preplayed last year, and I had to use it again. <3 ]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Chuck turned to the class. He gave them all a very sour look. After all, it was their fault he was there.

Well, in a way, he's kind of right... )

[OOC: It'll be up faster than Chuck can jump an art teacher!
That's pretty fast.
Up!]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Again, as kids were entering the room, there was no Mr. Noblet. But a few seconds before the bell, he elbowed his way through the last-minute students and rushed into the classroom. The bell rang just as he tossed his briefcase to the desk. He pumped his fist in triumph.

“Take that, bell system! You thought you could make me late to class. But it looks like you’re the loser today.”

He turned around to face the class, suddenly the picture of a teacher. )

[OOC: Good to go!]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Chuck stormed into the room. Someone was still a little cranky. Chuck sat down at his desk, apparently too defiant to teach standing up.

The Civil War )

[OOC: Sorry that this is so late...]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Mr. Noblet entered the classroom about half a minute after the bell rang. He put down his briefcase, then got out a pen and notepad.

“Right. You had reports due today. Turn them in at the front of the room, one at a time, and tell the class a little about why the historical figure you picked was terrible. Make it quick. The faster you talk, the less time you have to be in front of the class.”

He grabbed a vacant seat near the back of the room. He pointed at a random student. “You. Get up there.”

OOC: Hope you kids are ready…GO!
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Chuck arrived with his customary lateness, and set his briefcase down on his desk. "So. The United States constitution." He walked to the board, bent over, and picked up the chalk.

The United States Constitution

Let's get to some learning. )

[OOC: There shall be an OCD, oh such an OCD there shall be… and here it is!]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
The bell rang.

Do you think that Mr. Noblet was in the classroom when it did?

If so, you haven’t been paying attention these past few weeks, have you?
It's time for a revolution. )

[ooc: The lecture is up, but where is the ocd? Hush and be patient, muffins. and so is the OCD. Time for class!]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Chuck entered the class seconds after the bell rang. “Hello, class.” He paused, as if expecting a response. When none came, he just looked annoyed.

We’ll be talking about colonial life today. )

OOC: Be ready in a shortly... Class is ready!
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Lesson 2: Columbus + Pilgrims

When the students arrived, Mr. Noblet was nowhere to be found. The bell rang, and there was still no teacher.

There was, however, the sound of footsteps. Someone sprinting. The sound grew louder, and Mr. Noblet, red-faced and panting from exhaustion, entered the room. He closed the door behind him and leaned back on it. He gave the class a dismissive wave, and managed to say, “Be right…with you…”

Sensing a pattern, here? )

OOC: OCD will be up in a shortly. OCD is ready and willing!
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Lesson 1- Laying Down the Law


When the students arrived, they saw papers on the desks, each one bearing a name. They were seated in alphabetical order; how new and exciting!

Read more... )

OOC: Wait just a minute for the OCD... Sorry I'm late with the class. Looks like I'm in character today! Hop in!
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Chuck was already there when the bell rang. He surveyed the class, taking in their faces, and feeling true joy in the thought that he might never have to see any of them again.  )

[ooc: There's a lot of madness today, so you might as well get cracking. ^_^ The OCD will be up by the time you finish reading the lesson. is up. For our last class. *Sobs*]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Chuck got into class about a minute after the bell rang. He surveyed the class, and appeared to be in a good mood.
Getting ready for the end. )

[ooc: OCD will be up soon! is up. Go play!]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Chuck stormed into class, precisely on time, and glaring at everyone. He was not a man with which to be meddled, today. This was because, of course, someone had already meddled with him…

Hell hath no fury like an angered Noblet. )

[ooc: OCD up soon. is up! Let the interrogation commence!]
[identity profile] bookwormwood.livejournal.com
Matilda walked into class with a bit of bounce in her step. Today she got to teach class for REAL. And Chuck wouldn’t be coming in to stop her. She stands in front of the class, a little dwarfed by the large chalkboard behind her, but she smiles none-the-less.Cut for rambling )

“Well there’s a lot more but I want to give you a chance to ask me any questions before class ends,” she stands ready to call on anyone who raises their hand.

((OOC: Apologies for lateness, I've got to type up another class and such. Haha and this one got long. I'll catch pings as timely as I can.))
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Chuck slumped into the classroom, a good two minutes after the bell had rung. He set his briefcase down on the desk, and looked up at the rows of students.

He was very much not in the mood for this. Chuck sat down at his desk, found that the briefcase was now in the way, shoved it to the side, and watched it fall to the floor. He barely reacted, just gave it a sort of dazed look. Someone had had a late night last night.

Chuck began the lesson, but didn’t move to get up. )

[OOC: OCD up in a minute, my freaky darlings… at the ready and waiting!]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
That whole being on time thing? Yeah, not happening again. Chuck strolled in the door about half a minute after the bell rang. He didn’t seem to be concerned with any sort of bell contest today.

Chuck turned to the class. He gave them all a very sour look. After all, it was their fault he was there.

Time for misinformation )

[ooc: OCD to come. You've been waiting so patiently, perhaps just a little bit more won't hurt... is ready like Speed Racer at the starting line!]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Again, as kids were entering the room, there was no Mr. Noblet. But a few seconds before the bell, he elbowed his way through the last-minute students and rushed into the classroom. The bell rang just as he tossed his briefcase to the desk. He pumped his fist in triumph.

“Take that, bell system! You thought you could make me late to class. But it looks like you’re the loser today.”

He turned around to face the class, suddenly the picture of a teacher.

“The industrial revolution.” )

[ooc: Sorry, up uncharacteristically late. OCD won't be but a moment. is up!]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Chuck stomped into class a few minutes after the bell had rung. He gave a quick glare at Willow and Jim. “Mentees, we may have to have to reschedule the mentoring meeting. It is regrettable that I was unable to make it this weekend.” The glare went up a bit in intensity. “I was not there.

All the goodwill from last week? Yeah, it was gone. Someone was still a little cranky.

Chuck sat down at his desk. “Before we get into the lecture, Blair has a presentation for the class.” He sat and waited while Blair came to the front of the room and read his paper.

After Blair sat down, Chuck stood up, and began the lesson. )

[ooc: OCD, coming soon to a computer near you! OCD, the gripping thriller, is in theatres now!]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Mr. Noblet entered the classroom about half a minute after the bell rang, carrying a couple large boxes. He set them on the table near the window, and laid out the contents: moddable homemade cupcakes and cookies, all decorated for Valentine’s Day. He finished setting up, then turned to the class.

Yum! Food... )

[ooc: OCD's coming. Perhaps you can eat candy while you wait? Have at it! Valentine's Day love to all!]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
The bell rang, and Mr. Noblet was not there.
A minute passed, and Mr. Noblet was not there.
Another passed, and still, there was no Mr. Noblet to be seen.
The time ticked by, until one young student saw her opportunity.

And pounced. )

[OOC: There shall be an OCD, oh such an OCD there shall be…
...and here it is! It's alive!]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
The bell rang.
Do you think that Mr. Noblet was in the classroom when it did?
If so, you haven’t been paying attention these past few weeks, have you?

Blah blah blah... )

[ooc: The lecture is up, but where is the ocd? Hush and be patient, my muffins. and so is the ocd! Frolic in the joyful land of History!
Sorry. I'm feeling a little weird tonight.]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
Chuck entered the class a couple minutes after the bell rang, pulling along a TV cart. In no way was he late because he had just stolen this TV from the Creative Writing teacher. Why would you accuse him of such a thing? Chuck spoke to the students as he set things up.

“I’m sure that everyone here is aware that last weekend was a little odd. A lot of stuff happened, and many people were acting strangely. However, I didn’t see this as any reason to slack off. Far from it, I had an unusual amount of drive. So, I got into contact with some important people, and I have a bit of a treat for you today. It was actually filmed here at Fandom over the weekend, and I was fortunate enough to help out. It’s an advance copy of tonight’s episode of The Colbert Report. Scrabble, get the lights.”

Once the lights were off, Mr. Noblet hit play on the DVD, and the video started.

The Colbert Report )

Chuck switched off the video. “Okay, we have time for a short discussion before the bell rings. Questions?”

[ooc: Stephen’s interview preplayed, with much thanks! (Who is it? Of course I’m not going to give away the surprise! It’s far too good to spoil…)]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
When the students arrived, Mr. Noblet was nowhere to be found. The bell rang, and there was still no teacher.

There was, however, the sound of footsteps. Someone sprinting. The sound grew louder, and Mr. Noblet, red-faced and panting from exhaustion, entered the room. He closed the door behind him and leaned back on it. He gave the class a dismissive wave, and managed to say, “Be right…with you…”

He took a minute for his heart rate to get out of the danger zone, then grabbed his clipboard out of his suitcase. “I believe you had some homework assigned on the syllabus. Pull it out; let’s have a look.”

As he took attendance, Mr. Noblet checked everyone’s homework. Afterwards, he put his clipboard down and moved to the chalkboard, where he wrote

Columbus

Chuck Noblet turned to the class. “I want you to forget all that junk people keep trying to feed you about Norsemen or that red Viking getting here first. Ignore them. Those people are communists.

Columbus sailed to America with his fleet of ships: the Nina, the Pinta, and the USS Titanic. One of these ships did not make it to America, as it crashed on an iceberg. I am referring, of course, to the Pinta.

It was Columbus’ dream to discover the new world, where he would be able to open an Italian restaurant, thus bringing civilization to foreign lands. Ironically, his success was a problem at the beginning. Upon Columbus’ landing, the Indians declared a national holiday, “Columbus Day”. Columbus was unable to reach a bank, and could thus not get the money to put down a deposit on the land he wanted. This, compounded with a series of other misfortunes, prevented Columbus from ever establishing his restaurant. The pain of a dream unfulfilled would haunt him ‘til his dying day.”

The next successful colony was established by the Pilgrims. To quote a foremost expert in American History: “Plymouth succeeded because its inhabitants did not come to the New World searching for glory, adventure, or hot man-on-Indian-action. Rather, the Pilgrims had come to escape religious persecution, to create a society where they could worship as they pleased and one day, God willing, do some persecuting of their own.”

Chuck looked at the class. “Any questions?”



[ooc: Half a moment, dear students, and the OCD shall be ready All right, we're ready to learn!]
[identity profile] certaintrouble.livejournal.com
When the students arrived, they saw papers on the desks, each one bearing a name. They were seated in alphabetical order; how new and exciting!
As the start of class drew near, the teacher was still not in the classroom. The bell rang, and there was still no one to teach. But ten seconds later, a man flew in the door. He dumped his briefcase down on the desk, and straightened his tie. He took a second to pull out a seating chart, and set it down on his desk. He assumed the look of a lecturer, eyebrows slightly raised, as if to say “listen to this, it’s interesting.”

Hello, class. I’m Mr. Charles Noblet... )

OOC: Wait just a minute for the OCD is set and class shall commence!
[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com
"Here it is," Josh said, handing out the exam, "the last time you have to remember US history for the year." He smiled. "It's been a pleasure teaching all of you. I look forward to seeing you back next year. Except for you seniors--because if you're back, that means you've flunked this test and that would be bad."

The final exam. Josh is evil, yes. )
[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com
"Today is the last US History class you'll have to endure before your final exam on Wednesday," Josh said. "Which means we have only about, oh, fifty years of history to cover."

He grinned and pressed play on the CD player on his desk.

"Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray..."

When the song was over, he turned to the class. "Okay, any questions about some of the historical events and people Billy Joel was referencing? Or about the final? Last chance to bug me before you get the big test."
[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com
"Your exam might be next week, but we still have most of the 20th Century to cover," Josh said, "so strap yourselves in and prepare to take notes."

He pointed at the board where he had scrawled World War II, then back at the class. "Because the first one just wasn't enough."

Josh then proceeded to whip the class through Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Eisenhower, Pearl Harbor, Midway, D-Day, FDR, Truman, dropping a couple of nuclear bombs on Japan and the lasting legacy of the Holocaust in an hour.

He looked pretty impressed with himself.

"One question for you all, then feel free to discuss what you think the lasting importance of World War II was--if Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, why did the United States first enter World War II in the European Theater, rather than the Pacific?"
[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com
Josh was in a much better mood today. Too bad the subject of class was Prohibition and the Great Depression, huh?

"In 1919, the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, banning the sale of alcohol in the United States, was ratified." He raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. That didn't work. The law only banned the manufacture, sale, and transport of the stuff--not the possession or consumption--so Americans got creative. They made their own, they invented the speakeasy--a place where you had to convince the bouncer that you weren't a dry agent to get in--they had prescriptions written for the medicinal consumption of whiskey."

Josh paced around the room. "Heck, even the politicians who had voted for Prohibition had booze around: the President of the United States at the time, Warren G. Harding, kept the White House fully stocked. And because this law was so easy to get around, people began to lose their respect for all laws--not a great result. The 18th Amendment was repealed with the 21st Amendment in 1933. This example from history might be serve as a warning to current politicians about trying to legislate morality - " he shrugged, " - but that would require thinking, so probably not."

He looked down at his notes. "Now, onto the Great Depression. It was great, if depressing." He looked around the room. "Okay, that wasn't helpful, was it? People are still trying to figure out exactly what caused the Great Depression, or made it last so long, but most people at the time blamed the stock market crash beginning on Black Thursday, October 24 and continuing through Black Tuesday, October 29 for the initial recession, then go on to blame a decrease in international trade and a drought across the Midwest for prolonging it."

Josh ran a hand through his hair. "The point is, it was long, it was terrible, it was world-wide. In 1933, more than a quarter of the entire workforce in the United States was out of work--that this was the year Prohibition was repealed? Not such a coincidence. The government flailed for a good few years trying to come up with a way to stop the depression and finally came up with the New Deal through the general greatness that was Franklin Delano Roosevelt."

Josh went on to discuss the implications of the New Deal, pausing for gushing anecdotes on the coolness of FDR, before finally dismissing the class. "For those of you wondering, your final exam will be next Wednesday, April 26. Start flailing now, avoid the rush."
[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com
"Okay," Josh said, glancing up at the ceiling every now and then, "today we talk about World War I. Technically speaking, this was a war that was pretty Europe-centric: the United States didn't come into it until the Europeans had been killing each other on the Western Front for three years before the Americans declared war in 1917. We didn't actually get our troops there in any useful numbers until 1918." He cleared his throat. "So. It counts as a world war if you include all of the colonies around the globe that the European powers still controlled at the time."

He pointed to a map. "The Allied Powers: the UK, France, Russia and us when we finally got there, defeated the Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire." He looked at the class. "Practically speaking, World War I redrew the map of the world. It caused the collapse of four empires: the German, the Austro-Hungarian, the Russian, and the Ottoman. The failure of the Russian war effort led to the fall of the czars, which led directly to the creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republicans--the USSR, which were a group of initials that terrified children for decades and that you, dear God, are too young to remember. More on the USSR later."

"After World War I, Fascists came to power in Italy, Nazism took over Germany and we'd all be back and fighting another war in twenty years. But that's a different class."

Josh continued lecturing about World War I, covering Archduke Ferninand, trench warfare, Woodrow Wilson, and the terms of surrender inflicted on the Central Powers. It was fascinating.

Really.
[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com
"Today we start talking about the 20th Century," Josh said. "This might be the first time you've ever done that in a US History class. Savor the moment because this means that we're almost at the end of the school year. Yes, we're going to cram more than a hundred years of history into the next few classes, but don't worry. I covered three hundreds years of exploration in an hour, so this can be done."

He looked down at his notes. "Okay, almost the 20th Century. Spanish American War. 1898. Close enough for government work. Rough Riders. Hurst and Pulitzer. 'Remember the Maine', charging up San Juan Hill, et cetera."

He turned to look at the class. "This was the last time Spain was considered a superpower and made the United States, which took control of the Spanish colonies of Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines through this, well, frankly ridiculous excuse for a war, a global force. Remember that for next class when we talk about World War I."

He cleared his throat. "Today's discussion. Is 'because it seemed like a good idea at the time' an acceptable reason to go to war?"

On their way out the door, Josh handed back their test results ).
[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com
"I'll be getting your tests back to you next week," Josh said as the history class walked in. "And if you missed it, please stop by my office hours next week to make it up."

Josh passed out a poem ) "These are the words engraved on the Statue of Liberty," he said, "and it was written by Emma Lazurus."

He raised an eyebrow. "As you might've guessed, today we talk about immigration. Doesn't matter if your relatives came over on the Mayflower or snuck across the Mexican border in the middle of the night--everyone in the the United States came from somewhere else originally. This is one of the things that makes this country so unique. Hundreds of cultures, dozens of religions and we haven't dissolved into chaos and war except for that once."

He waved his hands. "Okay. Today's discussion. How's the United States doing on immigration policy? Have we gotten better or worse at it? Are we just in the same cycle of whining about the newcomers that we've always been?"

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