Written By Andrew Wald ('12)

Graphic By Andy Agus ('13)

To the enjoyment of the students, Mrs. Liz Saddler is continuing to run her cultural literacy trivia class, this year with her juniors.  Once every few weeks, Mrs. Saddler conducts a class during which she asks interesting questions about relevant figures, stories, or even myths that have come up in class.  During this semi-game show, the class is split up into teams, either boys vs. girls or Boca vs. non-Boca.  The final exam will include extra credit questions based on the topics covered.  I had the opportunity to ask Mrs. Saddler a few questions about this interesting addition to the classroom.

Andrew Wald: Why did you decide to introduce this program in the first place?

Mrs. Saddler: I started doing E.D. Hirsch's Cultural literacy trivia here many years ago, maybe 2002 or 2003. I found that today's generation really lacked a cohesive knowledge base, perhaps because we've lost our oratory traditions, or perhaps because our family time - which used to be reserved for talking with different generations and learning about the past - is so strained and stressed in today's go-go-go-culture. Technology was supposed to make us "smarter," but I think we've wound up sacrificing a core of common knowledge.   

AW: How have you seen your students benefit from this game?

MS: The kids benefit considerably because they are able to better understand allusions in the books we read.  More importantly, it helps them become well-rounded individuals, able to communicate more effectively and understand cultural references from eclectic cultures and time eras. Plus, it's a must if they ever want to be on Jeopardy or Cash Cab!

AW: What type of questions do you usually ask?

MS: A question about literature could be "What is the adjective describing something as 'extravagantly chivalrous, impractical, or romantic' that comes from the title of Cervantes' famous work, Don Quixote?"

In music, I might ask something like, "What is a crescendo?"

If I want my students to learn about relevant cultural figures, I may also ask, "What are Federico Fellini and John Huston known for?"

AW: Do you see some interesting trends in the classroom during the trivia?

MS: Cultural literature is a bit like Color War, in that it provides an opportunity for students with "nickel knowledge" to really shine. It's always fun to see a student become a special 'hero' to his peers because of his previously-untapped knowledge. Once it's discovered that a particular kid has a vast knowledge of certain subjects, such as Greek mythology or Music history, he becomes a wanted man.