John F. Kennedy (1959)

When you get into choice theory and begin to apply its concepts to your life, you begin to see the world around you through a choice theory lens. Events at work, circumstances at home, and even books you read or movies you watch, prompt you to begin to reflect on them with choice theory in mind.

Teachers are always on the lookout for things and ideas they can use in their classrooms. It is impossible for them to go on a trip or vacation, for instance, without buying stuff to bring back and show their students. So teachers who get into choice theory are on double-duty – one, they are on the lookout for special things they can share, and two, they are on the lookout for ways they can teach the concepts of choice theory.

The group that went to the Sixth Floor Museum – me; Gale Crosby, Supt. of Education, Oregon Conference; Randy Thornton, Principal, Milo Academy; and Dan Nicola, Principal, Portland Adventist Academy.

This happened to me last week when I attended a conference in Dallas, Texas. I presented two breakouts on Leading the Quality School, but on one of the afternoons I had time to go with some friends to the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which is the site from which John F. Kennedy was fatally shot and killed. The museum is very well done – the layout and displays are eye-catching and informative, plus when you enter the museum they provide you with a handheld device and headphones to narrate through the displays.

The museum is a very detailed, powerful, and sobering history lesson. You are reminded of world events that preceded Kennedy’s presidency, the challenges he worked through during his presidency (e.g. Cuban missile crisis), the details of his trip to Texas and the reception he received at each of the scheduled cities, the details of Oswald’s attack, the gut-wrenching funeral procession, and the conspiracy theories that followed. Through audio recordings, informative posters, fascinating photographs, and original film footage, you are brought back to 1963. You can stand in the very corner on the sixth floor from which the fatal shot was fired. You can stand on the grassy knoll that was the subject of so much conspiracy talk.

Taken from the exact spot on which JFK was fatally hit, looking back up to the sixth floor window from which the shot was fired.

I must admit that actually visiting the Sixth Floor Museum and seeing the distance the fatal shots needed to travel, and actually standing on the sidewalk next to where the limousine was when Kennedy was hit, I find myself wondering if one man could really pull it off.

Taken from the sidewalk next to the grassy knoll; Gale and Dan in the foreground.

Since the visit, though, like any red-blooded teacher who is into choice theory, I have been wracking my brain over how to use my Sixth Floor Museum visit to teach something about choice theory. I realize that such a lesson or unit would be for high school or maybe middle school. I am very interested in what your thoughts might be on this.

What element or elements of choice theory could be taught from a study of the JFK assassination and the people involved with those events? How can JFK’s death lead to choice theory insights?

Use the Reply space below to share your thoughts. Remember to check the box that allows you to be alerted when anyone responds to your Reply. I look forward to hearing your ideas.

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