Summary Of Charles Baxter's Short Story 'Gryphon'
BreAnna Ah Po
Susan Howe
ENGWR 301
20 February 2015
Great Minds Think Alike
Creativity in the classroom is often hard to come by in schools today. Learning revolves around a certain banking system- where the instructors give lectures and the student listens and takes notes. Once in a blue moon though, a group of students will come across a teacher who opens their minds and allows them to think freely. For the students in Charles Baxter’s short story “Gryphon,” the opportunity to receive a different education from what they’re used to experiencing on a daily basis will actually benefit their way of thinking; no matter how unusual the process may be.
Miss Ferenczi, an intriguingly peculiar fourth-grade substitute, is a perfect example of an …show more content…
Hibler’s original lesson plan because she wants to expand the students’ minds to promote imaginative thoughts. Her lessons consist of magical stories that force the students to decide if they’re real or make-believe. Ferenczi increases conversations between students after her peculiar stories to debate the validity of her so called substitute facts. Her use of tarot cards in the classroom definitely came as a shock to some of the students. Tarot cards, which are normally used to tell someone’s future or fate, is another way Miss Ferenczi makes her students question whether or not she is extremely intelligent or a compulsive liar. Wayne, an innocent victim in Miss Ferenczi’s educational experiment, is next in line to draw a few cards. “That one means you will die soon, my dear…But do not fear…It’s not really death, so much as a change.” (256). Again, Ferenczi is encouraging her students to take a different view on a situation; in Wayne’s case: his own death. Learning is something that will not always have the same views from every student. In fact, Ferenczi wants her students to disagree with one another. Tommy immediately supports Miss Ferenczi in regards to her tarot reading, “She was right…She was always right! She told the truth…You were just scared that’s all.” (256). Although Tommy and Wayne are at a disagreement, one can admit that they both have valid arguments towards one another and that is exactly what Miss Ferenczi’s goal
Susan Howe
ENGWR 301
20 February 2015
Great Minds Think Alike
Creativity in the classroom is often hard to come by in schools today. Learning revolves around a certain banking system- where the instructors give lectures and the student listens and takes notes. Once in a blue moon though, a group of students will come across a teacher who opens their minds and allows them to think freely. For the students in Charles Baxter’s short story “Gryphon,” the opportunity to receive a different education from what they’re used to experiencing on a daily basis will actually benefit their way of thinking; no matter how unusual the process may be.
Miss Ferenczi, an intriguingly peculiar fourth-grade substitute, is a perfect example of an …show more content…
Hibler’s original lesson plan because she wants to expand the students’ minds to promote imaginative thoughts. Her lessons consist of magical stories that force the students to decide if they’re real or make-believe. Ferenczi increases conversations between students after her peculiar stories to debate the validity of her so called substitute facts. Her use of tarot cards in the classroom definitely came as a shock to some of the students. Tarot cards, which are normally used to tell someone’s future or fate, is another way Miss Ferenczi makes her students question whether or not she is extremely intelligent or a compulsive liar. Wayne, an innocent victim in Miss Ferenczi’s educational experiment, is next in line to draw a few cards. “That one means you will die soon, my dear…But do not fear…It’s not really death, so much as a change.” (256). Again, Ferenczi is encouraging her students to take a different view on a situation; in Wayne’s case: his own death. Learning is something that will not always have the same views from every student. In fact, Ferenczi wants her students to disagree with one another. Tommy immediately supports Miss Ferenczi in regards to her tarot reading, “She was right…She was always right! She told the truth…You were just scared that’s all.” (256). Although Tommy and Wayne are at a disagreement, one can admit that they both have valid arguments towards one another and that is exactly what Miss Ferenczi’s goal