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You could lecture until liquid hydrogen froze over
and still not convince a middle-school kid that science is incredibly cool.
Or
you could hire Grand Hank. (Real name: Tyraine Ragsdale, University City High,
class of ‘83. Day job: pharmaceutical research scientist at one of Johnson
& Johnson’s laboratories.)
Grand Hank is the inventor of a hip-hop-chemistry-self-esteem hybrid called
the Educational Rap Lecture, with lyrics like these:
 Some misconceptions of scientist are
That we are madmen or crazy nerds
I’m here to dispel that mystery,
‘Cause that’s absurd...
Anybody can be a scientist,
Anybody can be a scientist,
Anybody, Anybody, Anybody,
Anybody, Anybody can be a scientist.
Educators call Grand Hank’s performances of such material “inspirational.”
And while kids aren’t beating up other kids for their pocket protectors
afterwards, they seem to like it, too.
Ragsdale appears at the Franklin Institute tomorrow at 4 p.m. In keeping with
the can-do theme of his show, children between the ages of 4 and 11 will be
admitted to the museum free all day if they present an “achievement” (report
card, trophy, etc.) at the door.
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Grand
Hank Productions Incorporated © 2003
