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An English Teacher At Wellesley High School Essay

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As an English teacher at Wellesley High School, in the accomplished community of Wellesley, Massachusetts, David McCullough, Jr. confronts the paradox of reality versus the popular assumptions perpetuated by well-meaning parents and delivered a shockingly poignant attack on the Wellesley High School graduates’ self-perception and preparedness. In addition, he outlined the parents’ role in creating and maintaining this deception. Mr. McCullough used his knowledge and insight of the Twenty-first Century youth culture, humor, and steadfast opinion that his target audience of high school graduates is aphoristically, NOT SPECIAL. However, Mr. McCullough limited his audience’s sensitivity to his assertion using ethics, logic and pathos and later provides a positive, passionate and humanistic world view of how to have a well-lived life.

Mr. McCullough begins his speech by recognizing his audience and the privilege of being selected as the graduation speaker stating, “Dr. Wong, Dr. Keough, Mrs. Novogroski, Ms. Curran, members of the board of education, family and friends of the graduates, ladies and gentlemen of the Wellesley High School class of 2012”. Acknowledging the audience by name or position, Mr. McCullough is able to set the audience at ease. This is a nod to them being part of the same community. Wellesley High School is located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, a well healed community with excellent public schools and private colleges with a

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