Reverend Jim, a little context please… at bavatuesdays

The recent discussion and commodification of “Reverend Jim” at Faculty Academy 2007 might be better understood with a bit of context. I have to admit that I’m a bit scared that without a stable referent -or at the very least some clarification- this little joke may be misinterpreted. The reverend Jim is not to be confused with Reverend Jim Jones, the notorious lunatic who made all too many folks drink the Kool-Aid. Rather, it is in reference to a much more lovable lunatic , Jim Ignatowski, who after ingesting those “funny brownies” was never the same thereafter. The brownies in this case are the numerous sessions and overall “buzz” of Faculty Academy 2007. Who knows, music lovers out there may also make some connections with the Reverend Horton Heat as interpretation runs wild and intentionality is thrown to the wind.

Be that as it may, I think the whole “Reverend Jim” joke is a testament to the play and joy we all get out of the work we do at UMW. I’d like to take a moment and thank Barbara Ganley, Laura Blankenship, and Alan Levine for stepping into the nut house and having so much fun with it all -and raising the play and joy to yet another unthinkably amazing level. I’d also like to recognize the faculty at UMW for continuing to awe all of us each and every day we work together -most of my own groove these last few days has been fueled by the revelation that so many of the faculty grok and are implementing the “small pieces loosely joined” philosophy. Additionally, the absent presence of all the people in the ed-tech network that make this, without question, the coolest field in the world in which one could be thinking and imagining currently. Finally, I’d like to thank my colleagues at DTLT for making UMW such an inspiring and generative place to work, live, and play, despite the horrifying fact that they are currently using my uncomfortable status as fanboy to turn me into a bonafide lunatic! I’m feeling a lot of passion, joy, and general good will right now, much like I did after Northern Voice 2007, which is a ~~very good~~ great sign!

7 Responses to “Reverend Jim, a little context please…”

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1 Gardner May 19th, 2007 at 11:49 am

Somewhere between the stable referent and the floating signifier, Jim Groom does his magic unimpeded by most mortal constraints….

Viva Jim!
2 Shannon May 19th, 2007 at 12:29 pm

Amen, Reverend Jim, amen! I’m looking forward to hearing more of the good news from the most exuberant Rev. Jim. Although if Gardner wanted I think he could start his own cult, just trying to follow him sometimes feels like a drug induced sense of euphoria.
3 jimgroom May 19th, 2007 at 12:40 pm

Shannon,

I couldn’t agree with you more on your second point. I drank his tasty Kool-aid long ago!
4 Barbara May 19th, 2007 at 12:51 pm

Here’s to hoping that the Rev. Jim’s show is a travelin’ one, tents and all. In fact, why not take Faculty Academy on the road with its entire cast of characters–now that’s an experience worth having!

What a lift (and it ain’t the funny brownies talkin’ here) to meet you and your cohorts this week. When I begin to feel isolated in my own evangelism, in my own corner of the teaching world, I’ve got a mindvideo of those days to take out and replay.

Many many thanks.
5 Alan May 19th, 2007 at 1:19 pm

I thought the Ignatowski reference was rather obvious.

“What does the yellow light mean?’

“slow down”

“what …. does …. the …. yellow … light … mean?”

“SLOW DOWN”

“what ………… does ………… the ………… yellow ……….. light ……….. mean?”
6 Martha May 19th, 2007 at 2:37 pm

Have no fear Jim, it was always Ignatowski we had in mind.

And thanks for the YouTube clip — that’s one of my all time favorite Taxi clips. I hadn’t thought about it in a long, long time.