Disney in the Classroom
Walt Disney

As readers of this column know, I have used Disney in the classroom for several years. However, I have never taught a lesson that focused on Walt Disney the man. This year I will use Walt Disney: The Man Behind the Myth to correct this oversight.

Walt as an infant

Understanding a man and his achievements means understanding where he came from. So I’ll begin my lesson on Walt Disney by looking at his childhood. Walt’s father was a hard working man who built houses, owned a farm, and managed or owned several small businesses. However, Elias Disney never achieved lasting success in any of these professions. So as soon as they were able to work each of Elias’ sons was expected to contribute to the family’s income. Walt’s contribution began when he was eight. Rising at 3:30 a.m. he delivered newspapers until it was time to go to school. This early morning job probably affected his academic performance. Walt never did well in school, and he finally quit, when he was sixteen, so he could help win “the war to end all wars“. When Walt returned from France, he got a job as an artist for a Kansas City advertising company.

Walt dressed up as Abraham Lincoln to recite the Gettysburg Address. (Shown here with his friend Walt Pfeiffer) He did such a good job the principal had him do the Address for the whole school. Walt did these drawings during his first year of high school.