Help me make a decision, please. I have classes scheduled all

[daninthemoon]

day tomorrow. I don't want to miss a minute of the inauguration. I'm studying to teach high school social studies, but attending class will mean missing one of the most profound historical moments in history, let alone my own lifetime. My wife will be recording the events, but I want to share the moments with her. I'm sure my grades will suffer if I miss the day's classes. One more thing: I'm in Oklahoma, and very few of my classmates are in a celebratory mood about this inauguration. Tell me what to do.

[Stephanie]

1. Skip class

Ask a classmate to share their notes.

[Avalux]

2. Do you have a laptop? Can she meet you somewhere close to school -

somewhere with free wifi? You can duck out right before the swearing in then go back to class. You can watch the rest of the events in the evening when you get home.

[Lost-in-FL]

3. The books are not going anywhere...

they will be there when you come back from watching history. Don't let that moment pass you by.

[lonestarnot]

4. Outta there!

Celebrate celebrate celebrate! :toast: :party: :beer: :donut: :bounce:

[ThomWV]

5. Stay home and watch it - you wont' learn anything in school tomorrow as important as what you'll see

[Tangerine LaBamba]

6. Ditch the classes

This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and you'll be a better teacher for experiencing it as it happens.

Classes will always be there.

[Kajsa]

7. Would one absence

hurt your record?

I'm really asking as I know some professors are attendance freaks
and demand perfect attendance from their students.

[madaboutharry]

8. Personally, I would go to class.

I think Obama would tell you to go to class.

There is something to be said for watching it live, but in this day and age there is the dvd. Maybe you can cut into the student union building at the time of the swearing in. That would be about 11:00 central time.

It is a tough one.

[cynatnite]

9. I've got class, too, and I'm bugging out about 11am...

no way in hell will I miss out on one of the most important moments in our history. I'm in TN, too.

[Catshrink]

10. Skip class.

Think about this: In 20 years, which memory will you savor: sitting in class or watching the inauguration? You are training to be a social studies teacher -- watching the inauguration is very relevant to your field. You will use tidbits from the ceremony in your teaching most likely more than anything your would learn in your classes tomorrow. In 10-20 years, your students will be awed to hear that "you were there" or as my nephew said when he learned that I remembered the feelings around Kennedy's assassination "Were you alive back then?"

It's this kind of real life experience that will make your teaching come alive. Besides, you can't toast the occasion in class!

[madaboutharry]

12. Now that I have given it some thought, I

was wondering why you wouldn't be watching it in class. Especially if the field is Social Studies. I know that the public schools here are going to have the tv on all day in the kids' classes.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

11. My sister is a college professor. She's cancelling classes. nt

[Botany]

13. Get the notes ... do the readings .... talk to the profs

Skip your classes and watch Obama

[Greyhound]

23. Ditto.

This insanity of attendance grades in college is pointless, it does nothing but enforce obedience to make you a good little cog.

I'm sure (at least I hope) your profs will get it.

[dysfunctional press]

14. "one of the most profound historical moments in history, let alone my own lifetime..."

:eyes:

get a grip- presidential inaugurations happen every four years...and it won't mean a damn thing if the presidential term is a mediocre one.

btw- what's the difference between seeing it live, or seeing it on tape a few hours later?

"I'm sure my grades will suffer if I miss the day's classes"

that should give you your answer right there.

[daninthemoon]

22. I've been choked up all weekend. Presidential inaugurations do indeed

happen every four years, but this is the most significant one that we will ever have. It is absolutely profound. I will however consider your advice to be responsible and attend class. Still haven't decided, though. Thanks for the input.

[dysfunctional press]

27. "but this is the most significant one that we will ever have..."

melo-dramatic much?

the inauguration means almost zip compared to the actual presidency. if obama turns into a failed one-termer, then just how significant would his inauguration actually end up being? :shrug:

i'm not saying that will happen, and i hope it doesn't- but to say it's the most significant one we'll ever have is selling the future pretty short.

[Kajsa]

15. Question here,

if this is an education class for teaching high school
social studies,

why in the HELL isn't the professor letting his students
watch a historic inauguration in class?

His lecture is more important?

I don't think so!!

[dysfunctional press]

16. he didn't say that the class(es) was social studies.

people studying to be teachers do take other classes than what their major is. people studying to be ANYTHING do.

[Kajsa]

21. I know that.

he didn't mention till now what class took place
that time.

When I studied to get my English teaching credential,
my subject area comprised at least 80-100% of my
schedule.

CSULB is like that.

[daninthemoon]

19. the class I have at the exact moment of the swearing in is

"the exceptional child".

[Kajsa]

20. That's a stretch, alright.

It's too bad the professor won't make an exception for
this important occasion.

No pun intended.

[daninthemoon]

24. I don't think I will get in personal trouble, because I think I have an

almost good excuse for skipping to see the inauguration. At least, I don't think it's too frivolous. My concern is missing information that I may need later. Experiencing the inauguration live is also information that I would like to carry with me, and that I may have use for in teaching future students. I'm liking the idea of borrowing notes, but sometimes that's no substitute for being there. Kind of like seeing the inauguration on reruns: not quite the same, and not as meaningful.

[Kajsa]

25. I am Home Teaching two students

right now, in grades 7 and 10 respectively.

Their homework in social studies is to write
their experiences watching the inauguration
Tuesday.

I gave them a few writing prompts,
reminding them to save this assignment
as an account of what happened this
historic day.

They love it!

:)

[Stephanie]

38. Bring tape recorder over to a friend and ask them to tape the lecture

Easy

[WI_DEM]

17. Ask somebody in your class if they will tape the lecture (if that is what it is) and stay home.

[Swamp Rat]

18. Go to class

I will be in class from morning to night - a 12 hour day in total, with breaks in between.

There is no reason to ditch your responsibilities to take care of yourself. I am sure Obama would agree.

[dysfunctional press]

28. the peace president?

you mean that he lied about escalating things in afghanistan and increasing the size of the military? :shrug:

i hadn't heard about it, but that's good news if it's true...

[Swamp Rat]

29. No, I do not 'mean' anything of the sort.

[dysfunctional press]

33. i guess that 'peace' has a different meaning these days, then...?

:shrug:

[Swamp Rat]

34. Keep guessing... However, you may want to start your own thread to discuss this further.

[greenbriar]

26. I am a teacher and we have INSERVICE and a huge "special speaker"

I will be taping it and watching it later




BUT I will be wearing my 1/20/09 Obama's First Day shirt

[surrealAmerican]

30. If it were me, I would go to class.

Seeing it "live" on TV is not that much better than seeing it later. Not worth sacrificing your grades.

[orleans]

31. my daughter has class also. she says if they miss two classes their

grade drops down one full letter grade.

ugh.

her class starts at 11 am central (which is when the swearing in is suppose to start). i think i'll tell her to watch the inauguration and go to class late.

she's telling me "he's gonna be my president for at least four years" but this is SUCH an historic moment, i hate for her to miss it/not be a part of it.

[deaniac21]

32. Attend school or party? Tough.

[DeltaLitProf]

35. I am going to show the inauguration to my class

. . . via the internet. I have one that meets that day between 10:50 and 12:05 (Central). So I'll be researching links to TV coverage.

[tammywammy]

36. Go to class and tape the inauguration

Watch the inauguration when you get home.

[KatyaR]

37. There's a MoveOn watch party somewhere in OKC, I just had an email

about it. You can probably find it on their website.

There's also a Change Oklahoma! party--never heard of this group before, I found this on the DemoOkie website:
http://demookie.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=42987

Me, I took the day off--I work at a company full of right-wing fundies, and I knew I wouldn't be able to handle it--the day after the election was bad enough. I will be at home, watching and celebrating with a bottle of champagne.

Cheers! :toast:

[Kajsa]

39. I don't blame you.

I wouldn't go near anyplace that was chock full of hardcore Repubs
on election day,

There are a number of them here in OC, CA.

:)