Historical fact or legend

Suzie Harrison

Discerning the myth from the reality is one of the lessons Tom Purdy

hopes to instill into the minds of his Thurston Middle School

eighth-graders.

He used George Washington to get the students thinking about the

difference between what they’ve heard and what is true.

The eighth-graders took turns telling what they knew about the

first president. One spoke about Washington crossing the Delaware

River in the middle of the night through the freezing cold. Another

raised his hand to remark about Washington’s false teeth.

“We’ve got to recognize that these guys are human beings,” Purdy

said. “Sometimes they are seen bigger than life. Over the next few

weeks we’re going to learn about George Washington.”

Purdy said that through study, students will see that Washington

made mistakes and used poor judgment at times, but also that he

learned and endured.

“I agree that the real George Washington is better than the myth,”

Purdy said.

Purdy said the class is mature enough to start learning the truth,

both the good and bad, and learn how to put it into perspective.

On a sheet of paper, the students were instructed to label two

columns -- one side for likes and the other with dislikes.

“In the end, you can draw your own conclusions about this guy,”

Purdy said.

The class watched a video and added information to each of the

categories. Every couple of minutes the video would be stopped for

discussion and group involvement.

One student pointed out that he was called a swindler, that was a

cheat. Someone else pointed out though that he grew and changed from

his previous ways.

“We all make mistakes along the way,” Purdy said. “It’s the good

people and great people that learn along the way.”

The story of Washington’s life unfolded while the students noted

their opinions of what they liked and disliked, putting their

thoughts in the appropriate column.

“You’ve got to look at the big picture,” Purdy said.

Sarah Asaly, 13, was enjoying finding out about Washington’s

journey.

“I like learning something new,” Sarah said. .”

Jared Berkson, 13, said that so farhe thinks Washington is a good

guy.

“He made some bad decisions at first, but made some good decisions

and balanced it out,” Jared said.