Who's Your Daddy?

First day of class.

Student introductions.

A young man notes that he is a descendant of a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

I immediately think of an article I just read that discusses DNA mapping and paternity, and how 15% of people are not fathered by the men that claim to be their biological fathers.

I start to tell the young man this information, and then I think, "This can't end well." But, I don't know how to get out of it, since I already started.

I tell him that when this happens through numerous generations, there is a good chance that a person is not a direct descendant of a man who has a claim to his bloodline.

After a brief silence, the students react. I think one student called me a jerk, but I'm not sure.

It wasn't my best moment as an educator.

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IN RELATED NEWS
I know three students in the class very well. Masa, TangoDavid, and Truax (linked bloggers to the right) gave me a hard time in class today. But I was able to call them out on checking email during class and flirting across the room with female students. Having all three in the same class scares me. More than a little.