Who is Stephen Foster?

[ml/nj]

This isn't a trick question.

I cannot even say why I'm interested in whether FReepers know the answer to this question, except to say that it has something to do with American education, until I've received several responses. Neither of my kids, ages 31 and 27 and both top ten students in their 200+ graduating HS classes, knew. My wife knew immediately.

So help me out. Don't cheat. Just say, "Yes, I know," or "No, I don't know." (This won't give it away to others.) Tell me your age if you don't mind, and whether you went to a public high school.

Thanks.

ML/NJ

[Edgar3]

Yes - public

[Darkwolf377]

Yes, I know. 45, went to Catholic school 1-8, public high school. I didn’t learn who he was in either.

[T-Bird45]

Yes, I know. Public school, age 56.

[kaylar]

Yes-public. Remembered instantly, didn’t have to google.

[Tax-chick]

Yes, I know, 44 years old, public high school.

[randita]

Yes I know. There’s a park in FL named after him on the river whose name he made famous (won’t give away the name bec. then people would know).

I won’t reveal my age, but just say I am a baby boomer.

[cripplecreek]

I saw the movie “Tombstone”.

[mbynack]

Yes - Public

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Sure I know. Age, early 30’s. Homeschooled by the very best.

[TheCipher]

Yes- 47 - public school

[rovenstinez]

He wrote a lot of songs, Dixie land that are considered today to be inappropiate, songs referring to colored folks, darkies, with a particular English accent that the NAACP would consider to be demenaning. We sang his songs, and played his band songs....A way down south in Dixie back when Education was about teaching kids history.

[CholeraJoe]

Yes. 61 Publik skul.

[Publius]

I have a whole CD of songs by Foster. His song "Hard Times" can sometimes move me to tears when it's done right.

Stephen Foster

[CaptainK]

I knew. 55 and private/public schooled.

My son 23 public/private schooled didn’t know

[Overwatcher]

Yes. 66. Public.

[ProudFossil]

I even have copies of some of his “writings” plus a short biography from the museum.

[ClearCase_guy]

Great American songwiter. "My old Kentucky Home" "My Darling Clementine" "Swanee River". Many standards. His songs were often featured in Minstel Shows. He's a mid 19th century figure and died young due to alcoholism.

I believe he was a standard part of American culture until the Civil Rights movement decided that he was some sort of ante-bellum Southern apologist.

[Joe 6-pack]

I’ve known who he was since first grade. Of course as a native of Western PA (Foster was born in Pittsburgh), a bit more emphasis may have been placed on him in my school than in other parts of the country.