Graduation Speech.

Here's a copy of the remarks I made at graduation today. I diverged from the written text to some extent, but I won't try to reconstruct the actual speech.

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My dear friends from the class of 2009, as you know, I am leaving Staten Island Tech after 20 wonderful years and I wanted to say goodbye.

I am leaving for two reasons. First, I realized that this class is the best I am every going to experience ever. The class of 2010 may be just as good, but it cannot be better. Moses and I have been to the mountaintop, and now it’s time to come down. The second reason is that I am going to work for the only institution that I love as much as Tech, namely the United Federation of Teachers, and they don’t make you write lesson plans.

It’s a sad day for all of us, but don’t you people worry. You’ll do fine as long as you remember all the lessons that the teachers at Tech taught you every day. And this is the greatest teaching staff in the universe. This is the All-Star Team. It’s the 1927 Yankees. Naturally, I am Babe Ruth. Scavo can be Lou Gehrig. After all, our own Iron Horse hasn’t missed day of work in 20 years. Dr. Aronson is Tony Lazzeri. Manzo: John McGraw

There are two lessons that you learn from any great teacher and from every great teacher, regardless of subject, time, or place. I told you about it on the first day of Freshman year. It is the ability to think independently, critically, analytically, and creatively. Human thought is the most powerful force in the universe, my friends, and you possess that power. Question authority, but don’t disrespect it automatically. Always know that the story you hear is often a lie but is always more complex than either you or the teller can possibly imagine. And always remember: To live thoughtfully is to live fully.

The second lesson every great teacher imparts is a simple one, and you learned it from your parents first. We just repeated the words, and I steal from Mark Twain here in describing it… “Always do the right thing. It will gratify your friends, and astonish everyone else.”

Today I look out upon not just this great class, but, in my minds eye, at all the classes I have taught, well over 3,000 students. The class of

1990
1991,
1992, featuring Mr. Erlenwein, AP at Tech
1993, starring Ken Bonamo, Principal of Townshend Harris HS
1994, featuring Dr. John Davis, Teacher of Physics
1995,
1996, with beloved teachers, Noel Cibelli and Jill Bergstrom
1997, featuring our very own Mr. Manzo
1998,
1999
2000,
2001, featuring my colleague, Jessica Pagliaro
2002, starring English teacher, Kristin Grunwald,
2003, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
and even including the classes of 2010, 11, and 12, you know, those kids back at the ranch.

I am thinking about you all. You know, there is one word that describes the relationship between a teacher and his students. Your parents know the word. It defines their relationship with you as well. The word is love. And you people will simply never know how much I love you and how much you have meant to me.

And so, let us say, well, I hate goodbyes. Instead, let’s say “We’ll meet again.” I have a better idea. Let’s sing it. My film class knows the tune and the lyrics from the end of Dr. Strangelove.

We'll meet again
Don't know where Don't know when
But I know we'll meet again
Some sunny day

Keep smiling through
Just like you always do'
Till the blue skies
Drive the dark clouds far away

So, will you please say hello
To the folks that I know
Tell them I won't be long
They'll be happy to know
That as you saw me go
I was singing this song

We'll meet again
Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know we'll meet again
Some Sunny day.

Congratulations to Class of '09

Congratulations and best wishes to all of you! Yours was a great class, one that I enjoyed through several venues. First the anxious and rather shell-shocked youngsters I tried to un-indoctrinate in your freshman global classes. Then, the rather sober and serious juniors for whom I attempted to redefine the word "patriotism." And lastly, the hard-boiled, jaded film noir heroes I shared a love of film and a bemused disilusionment about life with.

It was such fun watching you descend into utter madness. Welcome to the happy fraternity!

Truly a Dark City

As rain fell on me, albeit briefly, today for the upteenth day in a row, I was reminded of one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite films,

"I don't think the sun even exists in this place."

Lost version of All Quiet on WF at Film Forum

I was at the Film Forum on Sunday to see a French film noir from 1963 called Le Combat dans L'il" or something close to that. It was an interesting allegory about how society is seduced by the right wing elements. No matter. The reason I'm posting is because I saw that a special version of All Quiet on the Western Front will be screening in early August. Supposedly, it's an altered version, with missing footage. I'll see if I can dig up the link and post it below. I'd definitely go see it, but I'll be in France that day.

Hope all of you are enjoying your adulthood. I have found mine to be more satisfying than childhood, but not all it could be, somehow.

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT at Film Forum in New York City

Wild Strawberries

The end of our class was poignant for me, as it represented the end, not only of a truly great class, but also of my teaching career. One always likes to go out on a high note, and in this instance we're talking about a high C.

I know I said several times that this was the best film class ever. As honest as I was when I uttered those words, it really is not fair to the other 20 or so film classes that I taught over the years. Most of them were also very superior, and one or two of them were terrific. So, let's just say that this one was special for several reasons. First, it was an all volunteer army. In the past, it took me a week or two to bring around all the sour-pusses who did not want to be in the class. This time, we really hit the ground running. Second was the new technology. I actually used to teach the class on a 27 inch TV. This was the first time I had the luxury of the big screen. And, the blogs added an entirely new element to the class, and extended my enjoyment beyond the 41 minutes of actual face time.

I want to thank everyone who helped make the class so special. Everybody contributed something, whether it was cogent analysis, elegant posts on the blog, laughing at all the jokes, or just thoughtful appreciation of the films and the discussion. Normally, I would not single anyone out for special mention. But, considering the sheer volume of commentary on their blogs, I hardly think anyone will be offended if I extend a special word of thanks to James and Nick. These two guys went above and beyond in every way, and they should know that I bragged about them to my family, colleagues, administrators, etc. Their work was amazing, both in quantity and quality. Over fifty posting each on their respective blogs. I encourage those of you who either have not read their blogs, or those few of you -- incredibly -- have not "followed" them, to check out their work.

On the last day of classes, we had a quorum of about 10 students, so we discussed a way to judge the films we saw. I thought we'd use the Acadamy Awards method. See Nick's last post for his take on this. I think my vote would go this way:

Best Picture to Unforgiven. I thought this award should go to a film that tried to do something big. This film was hugely ambitious in that attempted to rewrite the entire book on the Western. Also, it brought together enormous talent, many actors, several sets, several story lines all of which converge (remember English Bob?) Nominations to All Quiet, and Runaway Train.

Best Director to Orson Welles for Citizen Kane. Remember how important this film has become, influencing generations of directors. Welles rewrote the book on what great direction is all about. Nominations to Seventh Seal and Dark City

Best Actor: Jon Voigt for both films. Not really allowed, but the way he became those two characters was really uncanny. Nominations to Peter Sellers and Guy Pierce for Dr. Strangelove and Memento respectively.

Best supporting actor: Gene Hackman, Unforgiven, Nominations for Gunnar Bjorstrom and Dustin Hoffman. (Hoffman was really a co-star, though)

Best Actress: Frances McDormand, Fargo. Nominations to Brigit Fonda and the wife who got blown away with the shotgun, both from A Simple Plan

Supporting Actress: Who knows? The two girls who pickled all the vegetables in The Atomic Cafe

Best Screenplay: Runaway Train. The lines of dialogue, the focus, the Greek tragedy. Gotta go with this one. Nominations to Citizen kane and Unforgiven

Best Music: Midnight Cowboy, then Citizen Kane, then Dr. Strangelove. Atomic Cafe had incredible music also.


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And so, my career as a teacher appears to be ending. I don't imagine that I will do anything in the future that gives me as much joy and fulfillment. And I am proud to say that I was never happier than I was when I had a class listening intently to me. Ho, the joy it gave me to hear the entire class laughing uproariously to some outlandish joke I made. Or the faces of students hearing some new interpretation of events in history, or whatever. It was a powerful feeling.

My very last class yesterday, I showed the end of The Seventh Seal. How appropriate and how significant. During the "wild strawberry" scene, as Antonius Block held the bowl of milk up and declaimed on the ephemeral nature of life's joy, I looked out at my class. All eyes were rapt upon the screen. They didn't see me looking out at them. And I realized anew that I loved them all so deeply, not just those who sat in front of me at that moment, but all the students, over 2000 all told, who made my life so meaningful for 20 years.

And, as I gazed upon their young faces, wasn't there a death's mask hanging on the wall in the back of the room? Didn't I have an appointment with a polite, yet stern gentleman to play a game of chess, one that I know I will lose? The answer to both questions is yes, and yet it did not detract from my joy. It made it all the more precious. And I drank deeply of that cup, and so must you.

A Question for you:

Those of you who were my students last year in AP American history recall that I ended the year with a mini unit on film. I showed "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "The Seventh Seal."

I am pursuing the same strategy this year, and my junior class just finished viewing "All Quiet..." My question is whether I should show "The Seventh Seal" next. I am leaning very much in favor of doing that, but I thought I'd ask you for your input. Any thoughts you have would be welcome, and interesting, I'm sure.

Donnie Darko

I did not like this film at all. I thought it was boring and self-indulgent.

Nick commented on his blog that he was unable to comment on this film. He didn't know what to say. I knew it was a bad sign because Nick is rarely at a loss for words. But, I know exactly what he means. The film was well done. It was well-acted. The idea was clever and different. So, it gives me no pleasure to trash this film. But, for me, the sine qua non of any film is whether I care. Do I care what happens? Do I want to know what the MacGuffin is? Do I care about the characters on any level, either loving them, and wanting them to succeed, or hating them and wanting them punished? The answer was no. With 15 minutes left to go, with the secret on the verge of being revealed, all I wanted was the ordeal to be over.

I was bored stiff.