[edw519]

What a fantastic page! I also went to Gateway High School for 6, er I mean, 3 of the best years of my life. I had no idea Paul Graham also went there. What a small world. I was several years ahead of Paul. I discovered his essays a few years ago, and here I am now.

I also had Dr. Schultz for a class called "World Cultures". We watched films like "On the Waterfront" and "High Noon" and discussed them afterward. I remember him vividly. I still have my film project (The History of Art to the tune of Magic Carpet Ride) from that class. I suppose I should have it digitized and loaded onto Youtube. One of these days.

I self published a parody of Mad Magazine about Gateway. Still have the comics about principal O'Toole, and the teachers who influenced me: Laura Barrett Mikesell, Laura Sproull, Ann Bitter, and, of course, Ann Kapisak (geometry) and John Drumm (calculus). Because of that magazine, Mrs. Mikesell strongly encouraged me toward a career in journalism. Fortunately for me, the English department at Allegheny College sucked and the math department excelled, so I've been a hacker ever since.

Funny how a few kind words from a teacher make such a difference for so many years.

Thanks for the memories, Paul. Any chance you're related to Mark Graham, who was our Student Government president? Feel free to contact me off-line edw519 at yahoo.com.

Ed Weissman, GHS '73

[Jd]

Wow, movies on the Wild West are definitely what kids from Western Pennsylvania need to be learning about in a "World Cultures" class. What else did you watch? Riddle me skeptical.

[rms]

I went to public high school in a Western Pennsylvania suburb (two PA Turnpike stops away from Paul Graham's alma mater, which means our suburban strip wasn't quite as good) and in my best social studies class (US History) we watched an unreasonable amount of full length movies, including Band of Brothers in its entirety. We didn't do a whole lot in the class, but at least he told us that Westerners killed all of the Indians. He told us to just read Howard Zinn if we wanted to learn something.

[Jd]

Define 'best' in the construction 'best social studies class'? Learned the most? Most fun? Coolest teacher?

[rms]

All of the above, but I only have my other high school history/geography classes for comparison.

[Jd]

So... sorry to be a spoilsport but if

(1) The aforementioned class was the one in which you learned the most AND (2) Your teacher told you to read Howard Zinn if you wanted to learn something IMPLYING (2') Your teacher didn't think you were learning anything

Then mustn't we conclude (3) You didn't learn learn anything in your high school social studies classes

?

[rms]

Yes, that would be the logical conclusion.

[edw519]

"On the Waterfront"? Wild West? Watch the movie. Be less skeptical.

One of the reasons I remember Dr. Shultz's class so much was that he exposed us to so much culture in a sea of mass produced crap. We need more teachers like him now as much as ever.

[Jd]

As a matter of fact, I have watched "On the Waterfront." I am not sure what I am not supposed to be skeptical about. That it is about 'World Culture'? Please...

[rms]

I think his point was that watching On the Waterfront was more educational than what is usually done in a public school social studies class. Based on my experience watching lots of movies in my high school history class, I agree.

[Jd]

Fine. I also agree.

[edw519]

Just a comment in general.

I'm a former Redditer who no longer feels anything in common with the commenters there. I have found a much better home here. I love the idea of talented hackers of various ages, backgrounds, and cultures being in "moving toward" mode. If you're interested in a start-up of any kind, you better be in "moving toward" mode or just hang it up.

I don't know you, or anything about you, and certainly don't want to enter a debate.

I didn't name the course "World Cultures". In fact, I'm not even sure that was the name. Maybe it was "Social Studies 11" or something like that. I remember the teacher and his class as one of my all time favorites. Imagine my pleasant surprise this morning when I found out that Paul Graham went to the same high school as me and that also, he had one of the same favorite teachers as me. I've been feeling great all day because of this. (Yes, I know, after 3 days in front of a terminal, even the little things amuse. I will try to get a life.)

It's often a good idea to be a little skeptical in business. The times I wasn't, often someone took advantage of me. Why are you skeptical now? Don't you believe me? Do you think there was something fishy about Dr. Shultz's class? Or are you trying to make some other statement that I'm missing?

"I am not sure what I am not supposed to be skeptical about."

I am not sure how to respond to such a strange statement (double negative aside), so I'll just respond with some advice my grandmother gave me long ago, "If you look for trouble hard enough, you'll find it."

There's a time to be skeptical and a time to be moving forward positively. Let's do the latter here. Peace.

[Jd]

Fair enough. My skepticism was directed towards 'World Culture' classes that don't teach anything about the world and the stereotypical American that can't find his own country on a map. I doubt there was anything fishy about Dr. Shultz's class in particular. If both you and PG liked him that much he must have been pretty good.

Oh and welcome. Don't worry about getting a life. It's over-rated ;)