The Wired Classroom

High School Students Videoconference with Pulitzer Prize Winning Author Friday, October 19, 2007

Yesterday, high school students from two schools in St. Louis, MO, a school in Michigan, and a school in Texas had an opportunity to meet and visit with Pulitzer Prize winning author, Edward P. Jones via videoconference. His award winning novel, The Known World, looks at the lives of African American slave holders before the Civil War. His latest book, All Aunt Hagar’s Children, is a collection of short stories about African Americans living in Washington, DC throughout the 20th century. Mr. Jones, widely respected for his ability to provide readers meaningful glimpses into the lives of memorable, unique characters, focuses his stories in one location, thereby giving readers a creative view of the history and changing culture of the community.

The videoconference was broadcast from CSD, and we were able to provide students with this opportunity through our partnership with the St. Louis County Library, since he was scheduled to speak and sign books there during an evening program. Students from Ladue Horton Watkins and Lafayette High Schools in St. Louis, and St. Joseph High School in St. Joseph, Michigan, and Kopperl High in Kopperl, Texas participated. The format was just a basic Q & A with the author, and we did a roll call, going from school to school, in turn. The students were well prepared and asked terrific questions. The author said afterward that he had had a great time and enjoyed talking to the group. In fact, later that evening, while taking questions from the adult group at the library, he referenced the students’ questions that he answered during the afternoon.

Of course, the inevitable question came up from the students (whereas adults rarely ask), “How much money can you make as an author?” The answer? Not much, unless you hit it big or win the Pulitzer. Mr. Jones said he had been given the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, and he added, “I now get $100,000 a year for doing nothing!” Other questions dealt with his writing process: how does he comes up with ideas, what is the most difficult part of writing, does he plan his symbolism, and do his stories contain any parts of his own life. Other questions dealt specifically with certain parts of his stories and/or novel, and it was clear that these students had read them as part of their class assignment. Interestingly, to the question about what he advises young people who are aspiring writers to do, he replied, “Read, read, read.” He also plugged school, which the teachers really appreciated. He told the students to stay in school and take the advice of their teachers and other adults in their lives because these people were viewing life from a greater vantage point. “If you stay in school, twenty years from now, when you are driving a nice car to your nice home or condo, you’ll see people on the street who dropped out, asking you for a dollar.”

The technology performed flawlessly. It was a picture perfect videoconference and the evaluations we received from the teachers indicated that it was a resounding success. We were fortunate to be able to have Mr. Jones come to CSD, and the technology enabled students who would not otherwise have been able to dialog with him do so. Another testament to the power of videoconferencing!

BTW: We taped the whole thing and got Mr. Jones’ permission to disseminate, so if you would like a copy of the videotape, contact Rebecca at rpolityka@csd.org, and she will mail one to you. New Links members, supply us with a blank tape in exchange; others, $10 per tape.