on 3/5/02 10:12 AM, Patrick O. Dolan at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

> I'm preparing a lecture on episodic memory and realized that
> in the past I've told a story that I don't know if it is a
> benign anecdote that I picked up from a lecture myself
> somewhere along the way, something I should be giving
> someone credit for, or completely incorrect/baseless story
> that I should drop from my lecture.
> 
> The story goes that a priest (most priests?) had/has/have a
> hard time recalling a baptismal prayer despite having
> read/said the prayer many many times, which leads into a
> discussion of rote rehearsal, etc. etc.
> 
> Anybody ever hear something similar?  Have a source?
> 
> Thanks kindly
> 
> Patrick

Just out of interest, I looked up the prayers at baptism, wondering if
they're very similar to another prayer, which might explain the confusion.
They don't seem to be, but I'll send as an attachment if anyone is curious.

Patrick's priest story is interesting.  I confess that I occasionally tell
anecdotes that I know will pique curiosity (and possibly learning!) although
I suspect they may not pass the Stephen Ambrose/Doris Kearns Goodwin test of
crediting the correct source, nor even getting the facts right.  My most
frequent examples in class, which are subject to a certain amount of
exaggeration and distorted memory, are family stories.  I've told some of
the stories so often that sometimes I can't even remember which child of
mine was involved in the purported event.  But I suspect that when teaching,
the important thing is to help the student make the connection.  I always
hope they won't nail me on accuracy, but if they ever did, I'd freely
confess I couldn't prove it and that it's just an example to help them
understand.  I'm painfully honest with regards to my personal failings.

Beth Benoit
University System of New Hampshire

Attachment: Prayers of baptism.doc
Description: MS-Word document

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