He opened the two-hour class by introducing a video of youngsters talking about how they learn, followed by two guest speakers, before making his own remarks and taking questions. Students at both schools were respectful of Gore, perhaps even in awe of him. Still, at Middle Tennessee State, students posed for pictures with Gore after class and requested autographs. One got him to sign a baseball. While Gore is still mapping out his course's subject matter, he and others think similar classes might someday be offered across the country.
Many colleges already find communities highly educational.
They go off campus for research, dispatch students on service-learning programs and provide help such as legal aid. This is different, Gore said. Gore seems committed to the course, even though he only turned to teaching back in his home state after conceding the presidency to George W. Bush last December. He plans to offer the classes again next fall, and a national conference on the subject is planned in May. There's no question Gore's students take him seriously.