‘Hamilton’ is saving NYC’s education system

CAT Tracks Editor's Note:

As an old History/Government teacher (who once had the pleasure of having Chris Jackson in class), I gotta admit that I have become obsessed with 'HAMILTON'.

I purchased the Original Broadway Cast Recording and have listened to it several time...

...with many more in the offing.

This moved me to buy the book which inspired the Broadway play. (Can't remember the last time I bought a history book...only fiction for me!) I have read the first 100 pages, with 600+ to go. Fortunately, the author has a reader-friendly writing style that makes for pleasurable reading (unlike the ponderous tomes of most.)

That said...

...a word of warning to those of you still in the classroom.

With all the talk of New York City students being funded to go see Hamilton on Broadway, the suggestion in the article that history teachers and language arts teachers might find the play inspiring for their students, BEWARE!

As the CD box clearly indicates, "Parental Advisory/Explicit Content".

Do NOT play 'Hamilton' in the classroom...

...or be sure to preview the tracks before playing, as there is liberal profanity, including GDs and MFs.

Yes, yes, yes, I know...

...you are apt to hear those profanities as you monitor the hallways today.

But...

...all it takes is one student to complain to the Superintendent/BOE for you to end up in hot water.

Did I ever tell you the one about the teacher in the middle of a brawl in the CJSHS cafeteria...

...who told a student who was about to inflict bodily harm on a classmate:

"Put down the damn chair!"

Well, the teacher was reprimanded and was not invited back the following year.

I won't even go into the the gory details of the white CJHS teacher who tried to reach out to/connect with his predominantly black class by showing a scene from Do the Right Thing (after careful preview)...

...but was distracted from hitting the pause button as a particularly racy scene played.

Oops!

After being called before the administration, he was allowed to finish the year, but, then, he too became CSD history.

So, if you must...

PREVIEW, PREVIEW, PREVIEW!!!

Select tracks that do not contain the aforementioned profanities.

Okay, you are on your own!

Foretold is forewarned...