Documentaries, Iraq War

Today I watched the following documentaries which have been on my DVR for some time. Why We Fight really shows you the extent to which the military industrial complex has entwined itself in our political process. It does not show anyone who seriously watches the news or keeps up with current events something new, but all in one place with it all laid out is more shocking. Everyone knows that Cheney was CEO of Halliburton and personally assured more than eight hundred contracts for his old company. It is sickening, so it is a good idea to watch it when you are already sick to your stomach. The follow-up to this for me was Iraq for Sale :The War Profiteers.

Hacking Democracy

Okay, being ill I have time to make more posts and catch up on my documentaries. These two I had seen earlier and I found to be breathtakingly disturbing, particularly Hacking Democracy. Even if it is partially true it opens your eyes to the type and range of voter fraud that can easily be perpetrated on the apathetic American public. When I first saw it I was in Virginia for the election of the governor and the senator. Whoa!!! There were all types of accusations and warnings going both ways. Also, when you consider Bush carried Florida in 2000 by just over 500 votes, it makes you wonder. Then there was Ohio in 2004.....This documentary is a must see for any concerned citizen before the elections in 2008.

Now, Friends of God, a documentary by Alexandra Pelosi, was just pure entertainment for me. Especially because of what happened to Ted Haggard subsequent to the filming of this documentary. The Religious Right ought to be ticked, not because of this documentary, but because of the unfulfilled promises made by the administration that were never even considered. There was a war to profit from for goodness sake!!!

My Classroom

This is a view of my classroom as it appeared near the beginning of the year. I change the rear wall from American Revolution to the American Civil War at the beginning of the Spring semester. I try to reach a happy medium with posters and illustrations. I want to the room to be inviting and stimulating without going overboard and just overwhelming a hapless student. I conduct a staff development every Spring on classroom resources including how to get inexpensive posters and illustrations for the American history classroom.

Review for David Stewart's Book

The Summer of 1787 is an excellent read!!! It reads like a narrative for the Constitutional Convention making some intelligent commentary and observations along the way. I have found it to be well written and researched. For anyone who has not done a very careful study of the Convention there is plenty here to discover and learn. The short bios of the partcipants are useful in adding a dimension to their motives in the debates. In now know about the snall but pivotal role that Abraham Baldwin played at the Convention and why he is lost into obscurity. A great companion volume while perusing the Notes of the Federal Convention of 1787 by Madison. I am looking forward to his new work on the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson.

Cochrane, The Real Master and Commander

What a great book!!! If you like C.S. Forester and well, I think that Patrick O'Brian has borrowed too much from "inspirational" sources, you will love this book. Earlier this year, I read the William C. Davis book on the Pirates Lafite which I also really appreciated because of the extensive research and, of course, the great narrative style of Davis. Cordingly has done a great job in this well written biography. While he is obviously a fan of Cochrane, he is more than willing to illustrate his shortcomings with little excuse for his sometimes arrogant and intemperate behavior.

While not directly related to American history, this biography does show the technological advances in early 19th century warfare that were occuring as well as the pivotal role of personal fortitude and cool-headed, calculated tactics.

Boston Massacre

The Boston Massacre signals the end of British authority in Boston. A time of relative quiet ensued as each side measures the other up and solidifies their spy and communication networks which is shattered by the passage of the Tea Act which led to the Boston Tea Party which led to the Coersive Acts which.....Anyhow, I found one of the most effective ways to teach the Boston Massacre is to re-enact it. I use the deposition of Thomas Preston and several accounts by colonists that witnessed the incident. These are great to teach point of view and bias as well. You can find the deposition easily on the net such as at http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/bostonmassacre/prestontrialexcerpts.html.

An excellent video follow-up is Discovery Channel's Unsolved History: The Boston Massacre which is available on Unitedstreaming under the video label Foundations of American Government. It is like a CSI investigation of the event. Push the desks back and have some fun!!!!

Boston in Turmoil

Boston was at the heart of the unrest which led to the American Revolution. One of the best books that I have recently read on the subject was Paul Revere and the World He Lived In by Esther Forbes, which won a Pulitzer Prize, by the way. It was extremely readable and well-researched. There have been many biographies of late on the Founding Fathers but pre-revolutionaries like Hancock, Adams and Otis among others who threw the pebbles that started this avalanche have largely been ignored. What a pity!!!

Massachusettes, Salem and More

I find that wearing costumes adds an extra dimension to a lesson. It is the ultimate in "interactive history". This is, in part, what I have begun to call "edutainment". We have to be able to hold the interest of the students somehow, long enough to teach them some skills and content. I have five costumes this year, up from three last year. I have added the Salem trial judge and I am currently constructing a costume that I will try to use to portray none other than Henry Clay or maybe Calhoun. I haven't decided which one I look more like. Neither one is too flattering. Well, "judge" for yourself about my first new costume. The book is a recommendation from my wife who has read much more extensively on Salem than I have.

Texas History - Cabeza de Vaca!!!!!

Brutal Journey is an excellent account of the ill-fated expedition led by Panfilo de Narvaez to Florida. I do highly recommend this volume to Texas History teachers. It is a gripping well written narrative that is easily accesible by general interest readers. This book will give a new dimension to your instruction of the Spanish exploration of what is now Texas. I learned so much about Indian cultures, particularly from the eyes of despearate Spaniard, Cabeza de Vaca.

To further your understanding and have something to wow your students, the Texas State University Library has an on-line version of de Vaca's La Relacion. It can be accessed at www.library.txstate.edu/swwc/cdv/ . The original is displayed on one side and a readable English translation on the other. Each chapter can be viewed, read and used. Simply wonderful!!!

I plan to post other great discoveries weekly!!! Keep coming back!!!

Mock Constitutional Convention 2007

The Youth Leadership Initiative, sponsored by the University of Virginia Center for Politics, is hosting a 2007 Mock Constitutional Convention from October 1-12. They have several lesson plans and other materials posted to their website. Students can vote on-line. This is a great Constitution Day activity for our district. Check out the website and the other programs that are offered!!!! www.youthleadership.net

Classroom Materials Part I

I have placed two links on the blog to Teaching Tolerance funded by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the United States Government Printing Office. The tolerance materials are free and very useful. There is a set of posters with quotes by famous figures and artwork from young people promoting tolerance. They also provide an annual publication on tolerance in schools as well as provide instructional units on Rosa Parks, the civil rights struggle, the Childern's March among others. This is an invaluable resource I encourage you to check out.

The GPO has many inexpensive publications from which to choose. It may take a little time to navigate and find what you want but the time is well spent as well as the pittance that they ask for the materials. I urge you to take your time and really look through this site for the gems that I know are there.

There is a great blog posted by a social studies teacher in Missouri. Erik Langhorst from South Valley JHS in Liberty, Missouri, has some great links and ideas, several of which I have stolen and used. His ideas on the use of technology in the classroom are innovative. I have decided to start podcasting and more closely intregrate Unitedstreaming in my instruction, perhaps by using Microsoft Producer, starting this blog for our school and proceeding with my MS Photostory projects. I have also become a STAR Discovery Educator!!! I have listed Langhorst's blog address below. Check

it out!!!!

http://www.speakingofhistory.blogspot.com/

First Summer Reading Accomplished!!!

After finishing the Guests of the Ayatollah I can say this book peaked my interest in the ineptitude of American foreign policy in the Middle East. The epilouge was a clear ending to a well-written account of the this historic epidsode in the failure of U.S. foreign policy.
Reading this account also raised my awareness of current events in Tehran as well as comments by presidential candidates such as Ron Paul. An excellent summer read for those with some political as well as historical interest.