Skyping with Max

Hi Everyone!!
I am so sorry I haven't posted anything before now. We are getting ready for final exams here. I can't begin to tell you how amazing it was to Skype with all of you! My students enjoyed it so much. And Max... he is still talking about it. :) It meant so much to him for all of you to go to the effort to come back to school to talk with him.

To wrap up our project this semester, my students answered the following questions. Ms. Ciupe and I would also like for you to answer them. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this.

1. Are there "wrongs" or injustices associated with where you live, or in your state or country as a whole? Include past and present.

2. Can we ever undo or fix the wrongs of the past? Explain your thoughts.

3. Is there a point in continuing to study things like the Civil Rights Movement or the Holocaust? Explain your thoughts.

4. What parallels or lessons can we take from these time periods and apply to today?

5. What is your vision for the kind of world in which you would like to live?

6. What responsibility do you have for bringing about that kind of world?

It's All Relevant... Here and Now.

So far we have been taking things pretty slowly with the communication and readings. We are all very busy with school, activities, life, right? And besides, do you ever wonder what the point is of reading history? Seriously, don't we sometimes get tired of looking back at the past? Do you ever ask yourself how this is going to apply in real life?

I have to be honest and say that I am writing this post with a very heavy heart... especially after this past week. Things seem to have taken on a new urgency. In our time together, we are focusing on the Civil Rights Movement and the Holocaust. This is troubling, dark, heartbreaking history. 

Take the time to read this article from CNN. Look at the pictures. Share your thoughts. Ask your questions. I think we are all asking questions right now.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/28/us/72-hours-of-hate-in-america/index.html

Thoughts from Reading

Choose a phrase or sentence from each of the following readings that stood out to you: Letter From Birmingham Jail, I Have a Dream, Interview with John Lewis.
Explain why they impacted you.

Documentary Link

Please watch this documentary on the Civil Rights Movement called A Time for Justice. It is excellent and will add to our discussion.

https://youtu.be/VFv8ok1GekE

Shared Lesson - Civil Rights Movement

We are about to begin a study together of the Civil Rights Movement and the Holocaust... two very different topics and periods of history. Our goals will be not only to learn historical background and knowledge, but to analyze and think about the complex choices and decisions that individuals, groups, and societies made.

Students in Alabama are often very familiar with studying the Civil Rights Movement. It is engrained in Alabama's history. In fact, Birmingham was often referred to as one of the most racist cities in America. It was given the nickname, "Bombingham", because of the violence here.

Our first assignment involves two leaders of the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s - Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis. We will be reading and discussing specific writings, speeches, or interviews. There will also be a few questions from these writings. Please do your best and put thought and effort into your responses. We will use these as topics for discussion.

Please read the excerpts on Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis. (They aren't long. :) ) For some reason, I can't upload a document to the blog. Ms. Ciupe has the document, which she will email to you.  Can't wait to hear your responses!

Question of the Week

Hi,
To promote discussion and questions, I will post a question of the week. Can't wait to hear all of your responses. We will also tell you about our hometown.

Tell us about your hometown. If we came to visit you, where in your hometown would you take us?
What would you show us? If possible, include a picture or two.

Hello From Shades Valley High School!

Hi,
This is a photo of my 3rd block Holocaust Studies class. A photo of another class will be coming soon. Please send us pictures of you at your school. And keep the questions coming!

Pretty soon, we will start working together on lessons about the Civil Rights Movement and the Holocaust. Stay tuned.