Vabowman

Thanks Matt, I was disappointed in this group b/c all year they have been into my lectures and seemed interested in the subjects at hand, until now, I guess it's the end of the year and they just are burned out. I asked how many of them would die for this country today, 1 out of the 26 raised their hand. I have several kids that won't stand for the pledge too, and when I went to the administration about it, they told be to back off on it and not push the issue, but it was lost battle before it got started.

Germ

When I go to the farm next I will copy it and post it. It truly was an eye opener.

GMMAT

Go through the proper channels.......sent home a permission slip if you need to.....

But the best way I could think to show them what happened on that day.....is to let them watch the first 20 minutes or so of 'Saving Private Ryan'. That's the most powerful movie footage I've ever seen.

Vabowman

Germ, post it and I will read to my classes if you don't mind. I told them about my grandfather driving the PT boats on to Normandy and then making the push with his regiment and how he was one of only 3 people out 50that survived an abush in an orchard, they were a little interested in that, so any kind of primary source is good!! Thanks!!!!

Finch

Cool Germ, that will work. Give me a heads up when you do it. Thanks

Vabowman

Jeff, I did that, they talked through the first 30 min, the most important part for our lesson!!! It made me so angry.... I was fighting back tears, I do everytime I watch that part, and they are talking and trying to text message people, I did get some phones and sent of few to the office!!

virginiashadow

Vabowman--I had the reverse happen to me in highschool a few times. I switched over to AP English after a couple of weeks my senior year. By the time my first class was done, the teacher made comments that Republicans were "knuckle draggers" and also made allusions that Military officers were "homophobes" and liked to bully people....needless to say that was the only class I went to as I dropped that class asap......I was in shock. I am one for any open debate but for a teacher to make stupid comments like that in highschool is ridiculous!

I also had one teacher basically call me "gay" for reading a strength and conditioning magazine in highschool......she made comments about me liking to see men with their shirts off, etc. The whole class started laughing. I went and told the VP that I basically almost slapped that teachers face. His facial expression was priceless!

Vabowman

wow, you gay?? not a chance!! anyway, I never try to impose my views on my kids, I often play devil's ad though, just to get the mind thinking!!

virginiashadow

Devils advocate no problem, that is what a teacher is supposed to do. That promotes learning. In fact, we need alot more teachers to engage and debate with their students. That is where the real learning takes place.

MOmightymite

I was always into history, and took quite a few classes in highschool about different things. I took WW2, Civil War, and then your basic U.S and world history. I'm not into the topics much anymore only because I dont feel like paying for them when I dont need them to graduate college, but it also helped that my teacher was very passionate about the subjects. Have you tried showing a movie and giving them a handout with like 10 questions from the movie? This would keep them quiet so they could hear the information to get the answers. It worked in my classes.