The Middle 8.

The Middle Eight…When I was in 8th grade a lot of things happened. Within the first days of school the lovely and amazing Aaliyah died in a plane crash on August 25, 2001. My future wife was torn from me. “Gone, I drove myself insane wishing I could touch her face but the truth remained that she was gone.” (That was a reference to Gone by *N’SYNC. Yeah I went there. Wanna fight about it?) You all should get the point. I had a crush on Aayliah.
A few weeks later, 09/11/2001 was tattooed on the hearts of many Americans. I remember that day. I was in 2nd Period Science. My 8th grade History Teacher (Mr. Dunn) ran into my science class and announced that planes had crashed into both Towers of the World Trade Center. Couple minutes later, the Principal comes on the speaker and tells the school that there has been a terrorist attack. Yikes. That was a big class distraction. It was a sad day, several parents checked their kids out early. I stayed the whole day, it was weird walking home that day. I felt like a plane was going to land on my head. I remember not being allowed to go on the Washington D.C trip that year because of the terrorist. Instead, the entire 8th grade went on a tour of OHIO. It was called “The Ohio Trip”. It was fun because we got to leave school. Saw a lot of sites in Ohio. Those two events occurred at the start of my 8th grade year.
In the spring, for my birthday I got my dog, Robi. She is all over my blog if you have not noticed. The year was 2002 so she just turned 9. She is getting old.
A couple of months later, in the month of May my grandfather died. He was on kidney dialysis for a while, slipped into a coma, and then was put on life support. We were told that if my grandfather were to awaken from his coma he would be brain dead. We let my grandfather pass. It was very sad. My grandfather was a funny guy; he had 8 kids with my grandmother. My father was the second oldest. He has seven kids. I’m the second oldest. (And no, I will not be in this pattern of having a bunch of kids.) My Middle 8 left me without a lot of experiences that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
As you all know, I have been doing my student teaching with 8th graders. This is my last week with these kids. In two weeks, after spring break I will be with 9th graders at a high school. (Yikes)
This morning while going over the black history warm up with my 8th graders. I realized that two of the answers: Aaliyah and Henry Caruthers had ties to my 8th grade year. Aaliyah died when I was in 8th grade and my dad started working on figuring out our family history around the time of my Grandfather’s death. Being black, we knew we had been somebody’s slaves. That was a “good” start. My dad did a lot of research and found that Henry Caruthers was the founder of Pelham, Texas. He was given as a slave to one of the Caruthers daughters (they were white). Henry, my Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather took the name of his masters. That is why my last name is Caruthers. I love knowing my history.
It was in my 8th grade year that I started to like History a lot. Overall that year was my best year in school. My other good year was my junior year, but I can honestly say that I really enjoyed 8th grade. (Which is why I like teaching that grade) In 8th grade history finally began to stick in my brain. I can still remember the review games we would play before a test. I’ll always connect the Midnight judges with judicial review (Marbury v. Madison). I’ll always remember that the name Old Hickory& King Andrew both refer to our 7th President Andrew Jackson. I’ll always remember watching Pearl Harbor and all that cheesy and mushy love stuff. 8th grade was an awesome year. I want that year to be great for the 8th graders I may work with in my own classroom.
I have many interest: Apologetics, Ontology/Metaphysics, Writing, Filmmaking, Philosophy, Mythology, “Geek World” (Consists of everything Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Harry Potter Pokémon, and so much more), and lastly but certainly not least: History. I find it hard to focus on just one. I wish I could stop time and just do these things. Instead, I’m content with making the time for them.
Here is a quote from Andrew Jackson, our nations seventh President born March 15, 1767. (I was born March 29 See we have a connection!) He said, “Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error. “ My beliefs give me a good foundation. I’m a preachers kid. My parents did a good job with me. The more I live the more I make mistakes and I’m learning that I need to own up to my mess-ups. Working with 8th graders will keep you humble. They are quick to point out every misnomer, blunder, fault, miscalculation, blooper and boo-boo. Being in a position I have learned to own up to my mistakes. Have you? Something to think about… Have a good night/day…heck have a great life.

The black man is Henry Caruthers!

woRm.