Passing the Human Torch

One of the reasons I went into teaching was to help mold and shape the minds of America's youth. I may pass on some day but the legacy I leave with my students will endure for generations.

With that in mind, we decided that our yearbook's theme for this year should be "comic books."

It's a known fact that the human mind is capable of learning only so many things. In my younger days I selflessly dedicated my mind to the in-depth study of comic books and the never-ending task of collecting any and all comics, annuals, cards, and action figures. I also collected magazines that were about collecting comics, annuals, cards and action figures. This all came (by God's mercy) to a grinding halt when I started dating. There was only so much money to spend and I could only blow it on one fruitless endeavor at a time. Looking back now I can see that I made the wrong choice.

Yet despite my years of absence from the Marvel Universe my mind managed to retain all of the information I studied in elementary and middle school. Vital facts like the real name of Shadowcat (Kitty Pride); Colossus' country of origin (Russia); the name Galactus' herald (Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer), who Nightcrawler's mother was (Mystique), and what became of Captain America's side-kick (Bucky) after he was frozen in ice (the Soviets thawed him out and brain-washed him and made him a super-soldier with a bionic arm and named him Winter Soldier and he fought against Captain America for years until Nick Fury [the director of S.H.E.I.L.D.] managed to set him right just before Steve Rogers [Captain America] was assassinated by a sniper and then finished off by his fiance Sharon Carter who was brainwashed by Dr. Faustus (who was allied with the Red Skull) on the steps of the court house as he was going to fight against the Superhero Registration Act and now Bucky is the new Captain America only he carries a gun and I think they'll probably find some way to resurrect Steve Rogers sooner or later because that's what always happens in comic books).

Since we chose the comic book theme, I've spent the better part of this school year joyfully "researching" comics books, comic encyclopedias, comic cards and (this is a new development for me) comic websites like marvel.com and dccomics.com where I can search character bios, event time lines, "universe connections," and comic book blogs. It's now possible for me to waste hours of time without getting off my recliner.

This year I got 11 students to put their brains to the task of deciding how to fit the obligatory elements of a yearbook into a format that would make it look like a comic book. It was a LOT of fun and the kids really got behind it with some very creative ideas. I wish that I could put it online to show it off, but I don't think that's possible. I can, however, share this much with you.

Every year we devote two pages to ourselves (the publications team). In keeping with our theme I managed to convince 11 inner-city high school students to dress up like superheroes and stand on the roof of our school for a photo shoot. They were a little hesitant at first but we ended up having a blast. It was the most I've laughed and the most fun I've had with my students in a long time. Check out the slide show on the right to see just how far I got them to go.

Joe Sinagra...working hard today to warp the minds of tomorrow's leaders!