Here is a letter from a friend and great person who like the rest of us - has her eyes and ears on and is paying attention:
I teach a Speech Communications 101 course. I have been using the textbook, per my department's advice, The Art of Public Speaking by Stephen Lucas (McGraw-Hill). This book is a $115 soft-cover, 400+ page textbook. This year, I adopted the newest 10th Edition. I didn't know who Van Jones was until watching a recent show. This is THE FIRST SECTION of the FIRST CHAPTER:
“The Tradition of Public Speaking"
"Growing up in rural Tennessee, Van Jones had no intention of becoming a public speaker. Studying journalism at the University of Tennessee at Martin, he hoped one day to report the new, not to make it. Nevertheless, he soon found himself drawn to campus politics, and he became a vocal member of the student body.
After attending law school, Jones joined the San Francisco-based Lawyers Committee for Human Rights to work on problems confronting inner-city communities. A few years later he established the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting opportunity to urban America.
But Jones didn't stop there. Over the years, he combined human rights initiatives with his interest in environmental justice. Today, he is president of Green for All, which focuses on creating green-collar jobs throughout America. In 2007 he worked with members of the US House of Representatives to pass the Green Jobs Act, which approved $125 million to train environmentally conscious workers.
How has Jones achieved all this? Partly through his legal training and dauntless spirit. But just as important is his ability to communicate with people through public speaking which has been the primary vehicle for spreading his message. He as been described as 'one of the most powerful and inspiring prophetic voices of our time'. Audiences are moved 'by his heart, inspired by his commitment, and rocked by his eloquence' . [There is no reference for these quotes - or if they are even from the same source]
If you had asked Van Jones early in his life, 'Do you see yourself as a major public speaker?' he probably would have laughed at the idea. Yet today he gives more than 100 presentations a year. Along the way, he has lectured at Harvard and Columbia and has addressed the US Conference of Mayors, the National Symposium of Climate Change, and the World Economic Forum. More than a few pundits have suggested that elective office might be in his future." (Page 4)
Lucas, Stephen, 10th Edition. The Art of Public Speaking. New York: McGraw Hill. 2009
ISBN: 978-0-07-338515-0
Online resources to accompany text available at http://www.connectlucas.com/
It made me sick. I wanted to take a shower after reading that! This is how students are being indoctrinated, not educated. I will no longer be using this textbook. In fact, on the ConnectLucas web site to accompany this text there is even a short video example of Van Jones speaking.
I have been teaching this course for five years now. And yesterday - on the first day of class - I gave my "1st Day General Knowledge Pop Quiz”. The first question I ask the students is: "Which rights are protected under the 1st Amendment?" Out of my 78 students this semester, only four students correctly answered the question.
I am spending the rest of this semester teaching this course by giving examples of speeches by our Founding Fathers, talking about our 1st Amendment rights, the U.S.Constitution, and by sharing meaningful, traditional speech communications history.
Thank you for all that you do.
With deep respect, a much more awakened teacher,
C.G.
I teach a Speech Communications 101 course. I have been using the textbook, per my department's advice, The Art of Public Speaking by Stephen Lucas (McGraw-Hill). This book is a $115 soft-cover, 400+ page textbook. This year, I adopted the newest 10th Edition. I didn't know who Van Jones was until watching a recent show. This is THE FIRST SECTION of the FIRST CHAPTER:
“The Tradition of Public Speaking"
"Growing up in rural Tennessee, Van Jones had no intention of becoming a public speaker. Studying journalism at the University of Tennessee at Martin, he hoped one day to report the new, not to make it. Nevertheless, he soon found himself drawn to campus politics, and he became a vocal member of the student body.
After attending law school, Jones joined the San Francisco-based Lawyers Committee for Human Rights to work on problems confronting inner-city communities. A few years later he established the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting opportunity to urban America.
But Jones didn't stop there. Over the years, he combined human rights initiatives with his interest in environmental justice. Today, he is president of Green for All, which focuses on creating green-collar jobs throughout America. In 2007 he worked with members of the US House of Representatives to pass the Green Jobs Act, which approved $125 million to train environmentally conscious workers.
How has Jones achieved all this? Partly through his legal training and dauntless spirit. But just as important is his ability to communicate with people through public speaking which has been the primary vehicle for spreading his message. He as been described as 'one of the most powerful and inspiring prophetic voices of our time'. Audiences are moved 'by his heart, inspired by his commitment, and rocked by his eloquence' . [There is no reference for these quotes - or if they are even from the same source]
If you had asked Van Jones early in his life, 'Do you see yourself as a major public speaker?' he probably would have laughed at the idea. Yet today he gives more than 100 presentations a year. Along the way, he has lectured at Harvard and Columbia and has addressed the US Conference of Mayors, the National Symposium of Climate Change, and the World Economic Forum. More than a few pundits have suggested that elective office might be in his future." (Page 4)
Lucas, Stephen, 10th Edition. The Art of Public Speaking. New York: McGraw Hill. 2009
ISBN: 978-0-07-338515-0
Online resources to accompany text available at http://www.connectlucas.com/
It made me sick. I wanted to take a shower after reading that! This is how students are being indoctrinated, not educated. I will no longer be using this textbook. In fact, on the ConnectLucas web site to accompany this text there is even a short video example of Van Jones speaking.
I have been teaching this course for five years now. And yesterday - on the first day of class - I gave my "1st Day General Knowledge Pop Quiz”. The first question I ask the students is: "Which rights are protected under the 1st Amendment?" Out of my 78 students this semester, only four students correctly answered the question.
I am spending the rest of this semester teaching this course by giving examples of speeches by our Founding Fathers, talking about our 1st Amendment rights, the U.S.Constitution, and by sharing meaningful, traditional speech communications history.
Thank you for all that you do.
With deep respect, a much more awakened teacher,
C.G.
Adjunct Professor of Speech Communications
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