Which Founder Are You?

The Constitution Center has a fun quiz where you answer a block of questions and it matches you to the founding father that you most resemble. It is fun, but why do most of the people that I know end up being so similar to James Madison?

James Monroe, The Last Founding Father by Unger

Monroe was perhaps the hardest working civil servant in our nation's history. He was a talented civic-minded, generous man seeking a legacy to match his betters, Washington, Jefferson and Madison. Monroe was just not a charismatic leader but he was gifted administrator. I respect Monroe and the sacrifices and devotion he held for this union. Saying that, this biography was well-written and delivered. While I do see Mr. Unger trying to elevate Monroe's legacy by overemphasizing Monroe's involvement in many events prior to his presidency, in the end, this is a good read. In many modern biographies I find a new rehash of the same facts any educated American historian already knows. Mr. Unger has a great writing style that maintains a flow in the narrative of Monroe's life and this book provided me with an increased respect for Monroe's devotion to his civic life.

Gifted and Talented

Just took the Texes test for GT certification and I was a little surprised by the amount of questions on recent research and Texas state guidelines from the 2000 statute. There is no real text for GT study, just an outdated handbook and recent articles from professional journals in GT education and research with which to try to scour an understanding of what GT education is today. Thank goodness Winebrenner's "orange bible" gives practical ideas for application and differentiation. Education is just so subjective, personal...there are no real working definitions or just one formula that works. Much to my dismay, there is no consistent definition for school culture either.

Success for All

Due to the situation my school finds itself in, I have been exploring the net, teacher blogs and any other educational commentary to find ideas about creating a school culture and climate that is nurturing and fosters high achievement. This is one of the places that I have ended up. Of course, in Texas, schools could be more successful if the Legislature actually equitably funded the districts or really, just stopped changing their funding formulas after school district budgets have been approved for the year. SSI funding changes this late? Come on!!!! Here is one sites....http://www.successforall.net/

Stadium High School, Mabry Middle School

I am not sure what exactly attracts me to this school, the historic main building that is built to appear as a castle, the stadium that overlooks Pugent Sound or just an itching desire to move up to high school. I have bookmarked the school site and visit it occasionally. My wife and I have talked about moving to Seattle before, but....I first saw this school as it was used to film 10 Things I Hate About You with Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. It was a good adaptation of Shakespeare's Kiss Me Kate. There is also a middle school in Marietta Georgia that is named after my family!!! It has an excellent website, podcasts, etc. Check it out!!!
http://www0.tacoma.k12.wa.us/schools/hsx/stadium/
http://mabryonline.org/

Old South Meeting House

The Old South Meeting House is a landmark of mammoth proportion. Not only is it the primary site of the inflammatory speeches which sparked the American Revolution but it still serves as a free speech site today. As a resource for Boston teachers it is phenomenal, for other teachers across the country....the museum store. Unfortunately, they are still not providing a list of the infamous Old South pamphlets on-line but I have found the museum staff to be very helpful. If it was an important speech in Boston or Mass., chances are they have a wonderful old typeface pamphlet form of it from Frederick Douglas to James Otis to Horace Mann.

This book has to be the authoritative account of what is arguably Lincoln's landmark speech. This is the speech which propelled Lincoln to the presidency. Holzer has done excellent work outlining the origins, circumstances and effects of the speech. The detail of the account is obviously from exhaustive research and the analysis is first rate. I highly recommend this volume as a great companion to reading any quality Lincoln biography.

Sullivan Press

For the best in authentic documents in American history from everything from stationary to a colonial marriage certificate, manumission, contract of indentured servitude, check it out. Do not expect speed in your order being filled, but the quality of the products offered cannot be beaten for the price. I find myself ordering something to add to my collection of documents to display to the students every year. For the re-enactor, this is the place for your period paper....

McPherson, Simply the Best

Tried by War is an excellent examination of Lincoln as commander in chief. This volume, as many others by many authors, illustrates Lincoln's uncanny leadership abilities. His ability to compromise, tolerate and handle not only the momentous political forces but at the same time prosecute the bloodiest and perhaps, the most savage war in our history. An truly great and informative read, McPherson has once again triumphed.

Marbury v Madison for the Masses!!!

Sloan and McKean have done an excellent job of outlining the momentous impact of a landmark Supreme Court case in The Great Decision, Jefferson, Adams, Marshall and The Battle of The Supreme Court. A general reader not only learns about the case but the internal working of the early Supreme Court. It seems unthinkable today that a Supreme Court justice would ride circuit for appeals, then hear a case they had ruled in before, at the Supreme Court bench. It only happens today in some appointments...Sotomayor perhaps. They also go into investigative detail of the parties involved in the case, the political battle between the first political parties and the tenuous first exchange of executive power between parties. Anyhow, well worth reading, highly recommended.

I Am Murdered by Bruce Chadwick

This was an excellent account of a total miscarriage of justice due to racism and its codification in American jurisprudence at the time. The horrific murder of the honorable George Wythe and the failure of the justice to which he dedicated his life to punish his killer, wow!!! There is also an interesting history of arsenic poisoning, racial relations in Richmond, period social life in Richmond and the pointed failure of the legal system one to two steps behind the times, as usual. Excellent summer read, investigative history, very readable.