Las Vegas: A great place for high school classes
Chevy Chase took his family, including his wife and two teenagers, to “Sin City” in the movie Vegas Vacation. I took my son there recently. He is sixteen and obviously can’t drink alcohol or gamble legally. Some people who have never been there might say, “Why go there if you don’t gamble?” I had three reasons for bringing my son. First, he was supposed to go there last year with a good friend’s family and couldn’t because of his tragic car accident. Secondly, I knew that he would be happy and awed by what he saw in Vegas. Thirdly, I believe he would learn many things pertinent to his school work. I am one of many unconventional parents who often think that travel is more educational than sitting in a classroom.
Here are the “school lessons” he learned.
Geography: We rode on a water taxis on the Colorado River near the town of Laughlin after riding through the desert about an hour and a half from Vegas. Jackson saw the Spring Mountain range and we talked about the Sierra Nevada’s, and the Rockies.
We also went up 46 stories in the Eiffel Tower replica and had a panoramic view of the local mountains. We also discussed the Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon and much of the western states.
Mathematics: First, I explained that all money spent on constructing the amazing casino/hotels were the results of math. Terms like house edge, standard deviation and element of risk influence the outcome of casino games like blackjack, slots, craps, Caribbean Stud poker etc. For almost every game, you play you are at a mathematical disadvantage.
Global Studies: This is the study of political, economic, ecological and cultural connectedness. Jackson was able to study global studies simply by being exposed to people who come to Vegas from all over the world. He heard a variety of native languages from many people who most often looked just like us. Our friends, Joe and Kathy who were our guides, said that lot of Mexicans and Asians live in the area. Many cultural themes have been popularized by the Venetian (Italian), Paris (French) and the Luxor (Egyptian) hotels.
History: Here is some interesting information courtesy of history.com. By the time gam- bling was legalized in 1931, organized crime already had roots in the city. In 1946 mobster Bugsy Siegel, backed by East Coast Jewish gangster Meyer Lansky’s Mexican drug money, opened the Flamingo, a swank resort. During the 1950s and 1960s, mobsters helped build the Sahara, the Sands, the New Frontier and the Riviera. Money from organized crime combined with funds from more respectable investors. In 1966 Howard Hughes bought $300 million worth of hotels ushering in an era in which mob interests were displaced by corporate conglomerates. Mega casinos soon followed.
The Arts: We enjoyed all types of music. David Bowie’s son Zowie, was one of the many performers we saw during the outdoor Fremont Street Experience. We also saw a magnificent group called “The Bronx Wanderers” in Bally’s hotel. As usual, unforgettable music was played at the magnificent fountains in front of the Bellagio every half hour.
Psychology. Certainly there are some times when pathology (i.e. public drunkenness) comes to the streets. I see these occurrences like as teachable moments that provide opportunities to chat briefly about important topics like drug abuse.
We missed hundreds of great events and activities. Because of some rain we missed a horseback ride in Red Rock Canyon and a trip to the Hoover Dam. We missed Britney Spears, Donnie and Marie Osmond, the LINQ Ferris wheel, Mirage volcano, Treasure Island pirate ship show, outlet stores, and hundred other fascinating sites. Maybe next class.