Student vs. Pull Down Map

Social Studies sure has come a long way.  While speaking about the evolution of pull down maps to online maps with a coworker of ours--a former teacher of 30 years--he began to reminisce a story I felt would be worth sharing:

"Back in the beginnings of my teaching career (early 70’s), part of my teaching day was in platoon... where I taught geography and social studies to 3rd graders. My classroom was one of those typical WPA classrooms built around the Depression, a brick fortress with weathered hardwood floors, beautiful molding everywhere, institutional green paint (three various shades throughout the building) and multiple heavy-duty pull down maps hanging above the chalkboards on two of the walls.


I will never forget the day when I decided to quiz students on the names of our states, using a topography map that only identified states by outlines. The students were divided into teams.  After a short clue was given, I requested for them to go up and point out the State and name it along with the Capital.

My first platoon group did well--no problems with the map or questions. The next platoon group came in and I realized right away this could be interesting. In this group was a young man, who was a little person. On the first day of school, his parents had told me they wanted no exceptions for him. Since the students were pulling down various maps (the maps were regional by nature) I had asked Jimmy B if he would like a partner to help him pull down the maps. He adamantly said "NO."

The fun began when he went up to the map. He first pulled up the stool (others had used this so that was nothing new).  He then selected the correct map and grabbed it with both hands to pull it down.  What a surprise it was to me when he stepped right off the stool to pull the map down, but even funnier when Jimmy B dropped down with the map, only to be sent right back up with it!  After the recoil, his weight helped the map to go down some as he began to swing his legs about. Jimmy let go with one hand, swinging it up to Tennessee (which was the correct answer along with Nashville).

He let go and dropped to the floor. Everyone stood up and cheered.  Who would have thought a boy and a map would clash?  With the triumphant display of physical determination, the final score was Jimmy B: 1, U.S. Map: 0.


…A day in the life of Mr. H."

The moral of the story?  Buy online maps.