zoosermom

"My H does magic tricks in class. "

I think burning at the stake is the appropriate remedy.

paying3tuitions

I saw a TV news interview with a young magician, recent Cornell U graduate, last name Cohen, first name was maybe Steve.

The interviewer made a big deal that the performing artist had an Ivy degree. Cohen said he did all of his undergrad papers on topics relevant to magic, for example, psychology papers on how to redirect a person's attention by tangential hand motions.

They showed him demonstrating tricks to some parents and teen students, including one where he psyched out the boy's locker combination.

He said his goal is to do the tricks so well that his only answer to the inevitable question that he never answers ("How did you do that?") is "It must be magic."

Very cool guy.

mommusic

I suspect this substitute teacher was fired for entertaining the kids with magic tricks *instead* of following the lesson plan and actually teaching something.

Good babysitter...bad teacher.

garland

Or teaching them in a way that actually keeps their interest. Innovation is anathema in schools these days, often times.

My H always makes it clear that it's not "really" magic, and then discusses the science behind what he does. He gets socalled low level students to grasp the concepts behind college level physics (little do they know, since they mostly don't believe they can.)

kelsmom

The Christian "right" strikes again (don't get your hackles up ... I am a Christian myself). Ridiculous!

As for the after-the-fact assertion that he didn't follow lesson plans ... why did they continue to place him as a sub? He is an at will employee. He should have been gone if he didn't do his job. If he was so bad, why was he even in that room the day he practiced his "wizardry?"

Thank goodness I don't have any tricks up my sleeve to use when I try to connect with kids I don't know!

historymom

"Figures. you just can't trust a wizard.'

Especially one in green and silver robes

lderochi

As someone who has a son and brother who on occasion have to risk their safety due to well-intentioned morons who start fires/explosions, I have to say that the Washington chemistry teacher appears to be a passionate and caring guy -- who's a complete idiot. Unorthodox? Fine. Fire hazard? Not Fine.

BunsenBurner

lderochi, too bad the articles in the archives have not retained the original pictures. I still remember the front-page picture of this teacher and his HS kids standing at a respectable distance from a ceiling-high fireball, all wearing SAFETY GOGGLES. A fire extinguisher was handy, too. Too bad it was not highlighted in the artcle.

Most chemists I've known started their interest in the subject by exploring dangerous things in their makeshift labs: burning chemicals, exploding stuff, making irritants, etc. Some ended up injuring themselves. If kids are allowed to do these kind of scientific explorations in a controlled and safe manner (HS lab), they learn that there is more to chemistry than stench and explosions.

lderochi

I'm sorry, but I have to continue to disagree. I'm glad he's a caring, dedicated teacher. And I know that science in general and chemistry in particular is a lot more interesting when it's interactive. And I'm glad he's got his kids wearing safety goggles. But I have a big problem with a "ceiling-high fireball", and the fact that the fire marshall dinged him for 3 fire code violations. This is serious, serious stuff. My brother has the joyous (sarcasm) task of shutting down numerous haunted houses every year, many if not most of them raising money for wonderful causes. He hates it, but he knows that he has to enforce code violations to avoid a tragedy.

BunsenBurner

Well, I have a huge respect for the professional and volunteer firefighters, but I'm going to disagree with you. A professional chemistry lab with the right safety equipment can not be compared with haunted houses. I'm familiar with the local fire codes, and I'm quite surprised there were only 3 violations found. A fire department inspection has to find some violations, otherwise they are not doing their job correctly (trust me, they inspect local businesses, too, and talk with us). Nothing can be 100% safe. The schools that are trying to approach this mythical figure by shutting down their labs are giving our future science jobs to the immigrants from India, China and Russia. Chemistry is not a theoretical discipline, and chemical reactions sometimes involve evolution of heat and gases. Many kids at D's school do not want to take chemistry, since it is all talk about ions, orbitals, etc., and the only experiments they get to do involve sugar and water. Ask me how many would want to become chemists - the number is close to 0.

And the fireball - I have a theory that it was done upon the reporter's request.

garland

I'm with Bunsen Burner (apt name) on this one. My kids were in enough boring science labs for me to see the difference when someone (like this young man or my H) finds a way to engage them.

It's not a haunted house. ANd getting back to the original story, if it were really over fire hazards, that's what we'd be hearing, not that it wasn't "just the wizardry."

BunsenBurner

Garland, this is again off-topic, but check out this local college prof's magic show:
The Wizard: 2007 Chemistry Magic Show at UPS

lderochi

we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one. Chemistry can be exciting and fun without being a fire hazard -- and without just being sugar and water. But we are wandering way off course here. The original wizardry story was just odd -- I wish I could tell what the "real" story was, it seemed to beg a lot of questions.

Narcissa

lmao Tila Tequila you're awesome

lspf72

Whatever happened to calling it a Magic Trick? Unfortunately, there are probably even people for whom the word "magic" would send up red flags.

My daughter made the mistake of playing with Tarot cards with another girl at a party once. All heck broke loose. A new girl, previously homeschooled for religious reasons, informed their mutual friends that anyone who plays with Tarot cards is a Satan-worshipper (her mother's words) and could no longer associate with them or sit with them at lunch. Fortunately they didn't listen, but our daughter was disgusted and it caused some real ill feelings at the time. This is the same girl who was never allowed to watch the Wizard of Oz (witchcraft) and whose mother demanded twice that they change their talent show song selection, not because of the lyrics (squeaky clean) but because she didn't like the beat (helpful for dancing). When she vetoed the third choice as well, the girls finally said 'take it or leave it,' and she yanked her daughter. They've been extremely patient with this girl all along, but her parents are doing her NO favors.