I did a 10th grade term paper on clipper ships. Cutty Sark was one — they were the fastest of sailing ships, the last generation of such before steam power took the job of hauling people/goods away from wind-powered sea transport. They were important in bringing each year’s new tea crop from the far east to western ports — first ship in could command ultra-high prices — races were a big deal. Their long, knife-like hull shape, and more extensivve rigging were the basis for their speed. It must have been quite something to be at the top of one of their ultra tall masts, or in the bow, or anywhere else for that matter, flying along under wind power (now loud engines!) across the seas.

Anyway, I’m grading term papers now from my 9th graders. They wrote about civil rights cases. As I talked with them about their papers, and as I’ve read through them, I thought about the various “big” (or so they seemed at the time) research projects/papers I did as a student, and how they stayed with me. I wanted to see the Cutty Sark because of that 10th grade term paper.

I also remember a paper on Joseph McCarthy (the awful senator from Wisconsin who led anti-communist witch-hunts in the early ’50s.

I realize this isn’t a post about term papers, but I wonder if anyone else carries their term papers in a special place, close to the heart?

And I’m jealous – I would have loved to see the herriot practice. All of these things to do the next time I visit. Sigh.