I have thought today was Friday. All day.
It’s not even close.
This source of Teacherly Angst brought to you by the letters M, A, and Y, and the number 16.
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Meanwhile, in the sophomore English classes, I made all kinds of kids squirm when I had them read, study, and analyze both “The Music of the Night” by Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber and “Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood (both: “You. Only you can save me.”) and then write about how they get their way. (The assignment is titled “We’re Just Going to Go Ahead and Call This “Seduction.” Your Mother Knows Where to Find Me.” Poor Sophomores.)
Then, because that wasn’t enough, I gave them “I Know Things Now” from Sondheim’s Into the Woods and “The Monkey Garden” by Sandra Cisneros, both brilliant explorations of the dilemma of innocence vs. experience (and they’re duly annoyed to be writing essay arguments about innocence at this point). I love using awesome musicals as text. And some of these kids have never heard of either Phantom or Into the Woods. Poor babies. Now they’re learning.