A Time to Remember

The photos from Joplin, Missouri look apocalyptic. Houses so completely destroyed they are just a pile of broken lumber…trees stripped of leaves and branches sheared…and cars stacked on top of each other like parts of a tinker toy set. Over 130 people were killed and many still missing. The death toll could have been even higher but the town was equipped with a warning siren that sounded 20 minutes before the tornado hit. People in this area of the country are well versed in what the siren means and found shelter in safe rooms, storm cellars, or bathrooms. The warning siren is part of the Civil Defense budget of many towns and a reminder that even in difficult times some government programs should not be cut.

The presidential race is starting to heat up. Former Arizona Governor Sarah Palin has purchased a 1.7 million dollar home in Arizona that could provide her with a convenient location to start a campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. Her bus tour of national historic sites starts this weekend, when she hopes to get the attention of vacationers as we start the summer of 2011. Texas Governor Rick Perry has also indicated he may add his name to those seeking the nomination.

Meanwhile, the President in his latest trip to Europe spoke before a joint session of the British parliament and emphasized the unique and strong relationship our two countries enjoy. This reminded me of our session with the international officer from the United Kingdom.

Modern America in a Global World

We continue to juggle schedule changes, field trips, testing and Capstone. Your latest and last individual project was your oral history interview. In order to give you flexibility, you had three weeks to complete the assignment and you had the choice of using video, recording or transcript for your final project. I have already viewed some of the final projects and they are impressive. You selected interesting people, asked well thought out questions, and learned more about historical events and time periods through the eyes of an everyday observer. Congratulations to all who met the deadlines and completed the task at hand.

If you are one of those students who did not complete the project, this is the time to reflect on what happened, why, and what you can do next time you are asked to do this type of project. For those of you going on to college or the world of work, you will find that teachers and employers will assign you a task by a certain deadline but allow you to design your own schedule. This takes time, patience and focus but it also gives you the opportunity to be a master of your own destiny.

We are also continuing with our presidential power point group projects. You have filled out a work plan, divided up the tasks and set aside time to practice. Your rubric clearly outlines what content is expected. Keep in mind we are stressing visual information…all notes can go on cards.
We finished our study of the women’s movement this week by comparing and contrasting music (Jack Jones “Wives and Lovers” with Helen Reddy “I am Woman”) and the two different candidacies of Hilary Clinton and Sarah Palin. While Clinton and Plain may not have broken through the glass ceiling, they have made the road easier for future female candidates. As voters in the next presidential election, you need to start watching and listening to the candidates so you can make an informed decision on who will best represent your needs and those of the country.

Due to a mix up with the Kennedy photo assignment, D period had additional time to finish the assignment. It will now be due May 31. Most of the other classes have started reading “A New Frontier” in our text and the one page primary source sheet on “A Grieving Nation.” Kennedy only served 1000 days but his vision of a government that tries new things while helping all nations is still with us today.

Thank You Dr. Modisett

On Friday we had the unique opportunity of hearing about Dr. Katharine Modisett’s trip to Lesotho and the work that she did in the AIDs clinic. Her photos and insights gave us a better understanding of the challenges many developing countries endure. A special thank you to AP geo students who joined us and added to the discussion. Are you ready to sign up for study abroad?

Memorial Day

On Monday we celebrate Memorial Day. This holiday originally commemorated those who lost their lives in the Civil War, but over time it has become a day to remember all who have died in service to our country, and our own loved ones. Many families take this opportunity to visit cemeteries to honor those who have gone before. You can learn a great deal about history at cemeteries as you read the markers and note the dates. One of my favorite cemeteries is the grave yard next to Saint Columba’s Chapel on Indian Avenue. The markers tell of astounding accomplishments, tragic losses, and simple lives filled with love and care for all.