No new readings for today. I would appreciate it if you would work ahead into Chapters 7 and 8. I’d like to get into them by Thursday the 24th, and I don’t move us along that far, they’ll both be on the syllabus for September 29
Every so often on this campus I get nearly run over by a student on a skateboard. I’m rather amazed at what can be done on a surfboard-shaped piece of wood with roller skate wheels attached. I don’t know if any class members are (or were) skateboarders, but skateboarding is, as I hope you will see, a phenomenon created by urban kids in urban environments. Today, and a bit of Thursday, as well, we’ll look at the film documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys. The story is the basis for the film Lords of Dogtown, which some of you may have seen. We won’t be watching Lords, but if some of you would like to see it, I have a copy in my office.
The reason why I want very much for you to see this film is as an extension to the Jacobs chapter on socializing children. I think you’ll find the socializing of these particular children quite interesting.
We’ll finish up the last twenty minutes or so if the documentary and discuss it a bit. I will also finish organizing people into groups, and then, depending on how long this takes, either have a breakout time so groups can start talking about the cities they wish to investigate, or start working with Jacobs on Diversity. So be ready to be flexible.
