2015 Beacon Award Winner
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Dr. Michael Brady
Literature and Performing Arts Adolescents and College Students THE CASE OF THE MISSING BRIDGE Literature and Performing Arts - Adolescents and College Students Dr. Michael Brady is a mathematics and social studies teacher at Heritage Middle School in Thompson Station/Spring Hill Tennessee. He has recently moved to Franklin, Tennessee and is a member of the Nashville Scholars of the Three Pipe Problem. |
Pictured with Beacon Head Light Bill Mason (right) and Awards Chair Marino C. Alvarez (left)
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He was selected for his work developing a Sherlockian curriculum relating it to the California High School Standards and then teaching adolescent youths in the California Prison System, Torch Middle School, Fullerton Community College, and Santa Ana Community College. Dr. Brady also used the Grenada Sherlock Holmes videos as a visual and performing arts component of the curriculum. When seeking copyright permission to use the videos Michael was honored by an encouraging letter by Jeremy Brett the actor who portrayed Sherlock Holmes in the Granada Television series. His students wrote to other Sherlockian groups and one point of debate was the Mathematical puzzle of the growth of the Oak Tree in The Musgrave Ritual. A sign that the students were involved in learning. During this time period Dr. Brady wrote several articles for a Sherlockian publication in Japan. His teaching technique, specifically the use of Sherlock Holmes and Math, was commented upon by a teacher in Europe who found success with the same technique. During this time period Michael belonged to the Trained Cormorants of Long Beach.
These students were not the "Typical" incarcerated teens. They were assigned to an Intensive Treatment Program (Psychological Disorders). From 2000 to 2007, Michael taught Math at Torch Middle School. This school is in an un-incorporated part of Los Angeles County and is predominately populated by Hispanics, immigrants, low-income houses and heavy in gang violence. But the students really tool to Sherlock. One year the students wrote their own Sherlock Holmes play! The play was called "Sherlock Holmes' Wife" and was performed for the school and district administration. This was a major accomplishment as many of the students were socially and academically challenged. This group also formed the WAX Vestas of the Dartmoor Professor (The Torches of Dr. Brady). Michael also used Sherlock Holmes to teach heights and similar angles. An End-Of-The-Year Math Project contained a Sherlock Holmes story, The Case of The Missing Bridge, written by Michael. The story emphasized Deduction and Problem Solving.
These students were not the "Typical" incarcerated teens. They were assigned to an Intensive Treatment Program (Psychological Disorders). From 2000 to 2007, Michael taught Math at Torch Middle School. This school is in an un-incorporated part of Los Angeles County and is predominately populated by Hispanics, immigrants, low-income houses and heavy in gang violence. But the students really tool to Sherlock. One year the students wrote their own Sherlock Holmes play! The play was called "Sherlock Holmes' Wife" and was performed for the school and district administration. This was a major accomplishment as many of the students were socially and academically challenged. This group also formed the WAX Vestas of the Dartmoor Professor (The Torches of Dr. Brady). Michael also used Sherlock Holmes to teach heights and similar angles. An End-Of-The-Year Math Project contained a Sherlock Holmes story, The Case of The Missing Bridge, written by Michael. The story emphasized Deduction and Problem Solving.