Partnership Educators,
Old Rip was born in Eastern Texas and led a normal life but in his early thirties, he became a star. One day no one knew he was alive and the next, because of a solitary accomplishment, he was being cheered by thousands. He was front page news in the local paper. In the entire existence of that paper, the amount of attention given to Old Rip’s coverage had only been exceeded by Lindbergh’s Transatlantic Flight. Soon after the amazing accomplishment, the local celebrity became national news. Andrew Volstead, former Congressman from Minnesota, was the first national politician to suggest, “Old Rip should be heartily commended.” Paramount News Reel Company came asking if Old Rip would reenact the feat in which he had accomplished this national fame.
Will Woods finally stepped in and became Rip’s agent. In May of 1928, Old Rip set out on a nationwide tour. He travelled on the most luxurious trains and stayed in the finest hotels. Among many of the prestigious friends that he made on his trip, President Coolidge himself was certainly one of the highlights. Then on a January day, less than a year after his national fame began, Old Rip died at home from pneumonia.
Articles were written, poems composed and songs were sung about the untimely passing of a national hero. His body was laid to rest at the local funeral parlour and a constant stream of visitors came to pay their last respects. Then with much pomp and ceremony, Old Rip was entombed in the lobby of the Eastland County Courthouse. If you go to Eastland County Texas today and venture to the courthouse, you can find Old Rip’s resting place. Old Rip’s claim to fame was the following. In 1897, Old Rip, while still alive, was buried. Then on February 28, 1928, 31 years later, Old Rip was uncovered and found to be alive.
Many of you are having a sense of disbelief of the story in which I am telling. There is a little bit, of what scientist like to call, Cognitive Dissonance going on inside of you. You have two facts that you think might be true but they contradict with each other. Let me help you with that. You see, Old Rip was a Horned Toad who, like the story states, was taken out of the cornerstone of the courthouse during repairs and found to be alive.
We all approach our work with many beliefs and bias. Because of your belief that I must be telling a story about a human, you used Confirmation Bias to confirm your thoughts. It wasn't until I told you some facts that went against your beliefs that your approach to the story changed. In our work, in order to help our struggles with some of our students, we may need to look for the answers that will disprove our belief in order to see the true road to an answer.
Have a fantastic weekend,
Rob
Superintendent
Redding Elementary School District
New Millennium Partnership
5885 East Bonnyview Rd.
Redding, Ca 96001