Malala

This week we started with a look at Pakistan and why Vice President Biden has described this country “as the most dangerous county in the world.”  We read an article from Newsweek which outlined the reasons why Pakistan is the perfect place for terrorists and an article by Fareed Zakaria on why our current US policy towards Pakistan is flawed.  We then looked at a clip from CNN on Malala, the young Pakistani girl who spoke up against the Taliban and paid a heavy price.  We also watched the TEDvideo on how the Taliban recruits suicide bombers.  Many people confuse al-Qaida and the Taliban so we did a comparison of these two groups (sorry power point would not upload to blog). Al-Qaida is found all over the world while the Taliban is focused on Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan is a country with many young people who have little hope and see that life on this earth is full of tragedy. Many poor families turn their sons over to the Taliban thinking that the boys will be cared for and educated while in fact they are brain washed and turn into potential suicide bombers.  After taking notes and viewing the videos you had the opportunity to respond to questions about Pakistan.

 

East Asia

 

We then moved on to our last unit of study on East Asia, a region that includes China, the largest (population) nation in the world and one of the fastest growing, Japan, a technology power house and the two Koreas, one prosperous and the other sometimes referred to as the hermit kingdom.  Your map and reading notes were due this week and you were able to use them for the quiz.

 

We then watched a clip from Professor Erickson of the Naval War College on why high school students should study China.  This nation is going to have an enormous influence on you and the 21^st century.  The US has been use to dominating the world scene since the end of World War II but with China’s enormous growth we need to make room for another super power.

 

Using a compare and contrast sheet we did a quick review of how China, India, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia are alike and how they are different.

 

As part of our study  of China we watched excerpts from a Frontline presentation called “Tank Man.”  This documentary tells the story behind the iconic photo of the young man in Tiananmen Square who stood in front of the army’s tanks in 1989 in an effort to stop the military crackdown on the protestors.  After this massive protest, China’s leaders told the people they would allow greater economic freedoms but would continue to insist on one party rule.  We saw how China can now be described as two different countries: China A is urban, wealthy and fast growing while China B remains rural and impoverished.  Many of the young people in China B are migrating to urban areas to work in factories so they can send home their earnings to be used for the education of the next generation. If you are interested in learning more about this massive migration of people I would recommend you watch “Last Train Home” which tells the story of a husband and wife who moved to the city to work in a mill and left their two children under the care of their grandparents.  It is a heart wrenching story of long hours and much sacrifice that results in the emotional breakup of the family.  In an effort to help families cope with long distance separations, China is building high speed rail lines that will travel at hundreds of miles an hour to help families stay closer.

 

For homework you need to read “China Cheerleaders” and respond to the question as to why the young people of China are so enthusiastic about their country.  Would you want to live in a country that promises unlimited economic opportunities but restricts your civil liberties?

 

Your next current event is due January 16.

 

Mid Term Time

 

Finally, you were given a study guide for the exam.  When reviewing for the exam try to keep the big picture in mind…what are the key concepts and what do I need to know about a region.  You should be familiar with your maps and the countries that we have highlighted during our discussions and current events.

 

World History

 

This week we finished our unit on the Industrial Revolution. We reviewed why a country needs an Agricultural Revolution before it can become industrialized and we reviewed why Britain was the first country to enter into this new time period. But the movement of people from the farm to the factory was not always a positive experience: young people had to work long hours, doing repetitive tasks that could be very dangerous.  Factory owners were looking to maximize profits so long hours of work with low pay were the norm.  These new working conditions led some people to start thinking about a new approach to labor.  We read about Karl Marx and his efforts to have the workers treated equally and we read about the utilitarians who advocated for the greatest happiness for the greatest number of citizens.

 

We concluded this section with a 10 point objective quiz.  Many of you earned high grades but if you struggled it means you need to spend time reviewing your notes and your text.  The most important homework you have is the homework you assign yourself.  Each evening you should ask yourself, what do I need to do this evening to get ready for my classes tomorrow? As a high school student you have many demands on your time and knowing how to manage time and demands will help you be a more successful student and worker.

 

Finally, we went over the APPARTs sheet one more time using an excerpt from the Sadler Commission which was charged with investigating child labor conditions in the 1830s.  This was our last opportunity to practice the document analysis sheet before you take your first task on Monday.  The task will include two documents and you will need to fill out an APPARTs sheet for each one.  It will be the identical APPARTs sheet that we have practiced numerous times. You will need to use your prior knowledge and to recognize different points of view as well as the significance of the document.  Use the prompt questions along the side of the analysis sheet to help you in your thinking.  You will have 2 full class periods to do the sheet.  I have full faith and confidence in your abilities to succeed in this task!