The Continuing Struggle for Civil Rights

Our day of silence on Friday, sponsored by the Gay Straight Alliance, reminded us that not all people in our country have equal rights. This was a powerful statement of silence when we had so many students participating in this day of awareness. Thank you GSA for reminding us that civil rights have not yet been extended to all groups.

Next week, student government is sponsoring a Week of Awareness on health issues. We will have color themed days, so get into the spirit and wear the color of the day: pink on Monday for breast cancer, green on Tuesday for St. Jude’s Hospital, red on Wednesday for heart health, and blue and white on Thursday for the Make A Wish Foundation. Thursday’s advisory period will be moved to the end of the day to make time for a pep rally to conclude our Week of Awareness.

Next week, President Obama marks his 100th day in office. This has been a day that has been marked by past presidents as a milestone. What has the new president accomplished by this time? Has he started to move the country in new and better directions? Do the people of the country feel more optimistic about the future? These are questions that many are asking and you can answer for yourself.

CWI/Comparative

This week we watched a very powerful power point and video on the Civil Rights Movement. These stark black and white images can be shocking as we see police officers using fire hoses to break up demonstrations and dogs to attack marchers. We read about the use of nonviolent techniques to change policies that discriminated against African American citizens. We read about Brown versus Board of Education, a landmark Supreme Court case that stated separate schools are inherently unequal. Our discussion as to why parents on both sides of the argument felt strongly about integration and segregation allowed you to see different points of view.

Next week we will continue to read about the movement and continue to use primary source documents. All of these assignments are preparing you for the portfolio task that will be offered at the end of the unit. The task will require you to analyze several primary sources and to use the documents as well as your prior knowledge to respond to the prompt.

While many of you did an excellent job on your announced quiz based on our text reading, some of you were below standard. When you have an announced quiz on a few pages of reading, you should have little difficulty earning a high score. You need to take greater care in preparing by reading, rereading and taking the time to do the section review. It is up to you. If you were absent the day of the quiz, you have 5 days to make up the work. Don’t delay.

Our next current event is due on April 28. It can be an international or national article focused on an individual or group of people that are working towards greater civil liberties.

AP European History

This week our two guests, Mrs. Reed and Mr. Crowley, gave us a very thorough review on how to be successful on the DBQ and the FRQs. This was a timely review and I hope a confidence builder as you have practiced all aspects of these two assignments.

On Friday you generated questions based on today’s Europe and as Mr. Crowley told you, at least one question will come from this time period. Next week we will go over the questions, look at the first paragraphs and critique the responses. I will also give out a list of possible questions from this time period. It would be great to have one FRQ question all prepared in your head for May 8.

We will have our last chapter test on Wednesday and I will also collect the bold to bold and study guides. We will then start our review for the exam.

World History

This week we focused on events in Europe between World War I and World War II. Some historians have noted that the wars were the same war with just a lull in the middle to rearm and refocus efforts. You have a packet with worksheets that will guide you through the readings. The chart comparing communism, fascism and democracy is especially useful as we look at the key elements of these rival systems of government. You will find this useful as you continue with your study of history.

We should complete this unit next week and we will begin the study of World War II. I have a packet prepared for you and as we decided this week, the final assessment for WW II will be a power point project. We will talk further about what makes a good power point presentation and review possible topics.

Your next current event is due on Monday. It can be any international article.

Three Down and One to Go

We have had a perfect week to rest, relax, reflect and prepare for the final quarter of the school year. In addition to reading good books, watching a few movies, and walking on the beach, I also went through your portfolios. Congratulations to all who kept their folders up to date. Your grade will be no surprise as you have maintained the list of assignments and know where you are on the grading scale. There was a direct correlation between high grades and an organized portfolio. Students who struggled keeping the folder up to date tended to have lower grades, and students who didn’t even have a portfolio in the bin scored considerably lower than fellow classmates. So what is the lesson to be learned? Taking the time to keep your folder up to date gives you incentive to do the assignments and thus earn a higher grade. You are welcome to come by in the afternoon to work with me on your folder.

So now we are down to the last 8 weeks of school, or if you are a lucky Senior you only have about 6 weeks to go. What is your goal for the last quarter? If you have earned good grades up to this point, keep up the good work...summer is almost here! If you have low grades and are hoping to salvage this year, commit yourself to working hard and doing every assignment. I arrive at school around 6:30 and stay after school most afternoons (except Tuesday...faculty meetings), so come by and work with me so you can be successful. It is up to you.

CWI/Comparative/20th Century America

We finished our study of the Cold War and our final assessment focused on key vocabulary. Historians use specialized terms to help describe relationships between countries and time periods. Knowing this vocabulary will help you better understand events of today. If you have been watching the news (silly question....of course you have been keeping up with current events) you may have seen President Obama’s overture to the Cuban government. References were made to our strained relationship with Cuba, and events such as the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis were cited. Knowing the history of the Cold War will help you understand why this reaching out to Cuba may be a turning point in our relationship with this island that is only 90 miles off the coast of Florida.

When you return, we will begin a unit on the Civil Rights Movement. As part of the unit you will be offered a task that may be put into your portfolio if you meet standard. The task will ask you to write an essay based on primary sources.

AP European

20 days and counting...have you started to review? Have you made flash cards? Do you have your bold to bold and study guides organized? I have full faith and confidence that you are going to be well prepared for the test on May 8 but reviewing in a conscientious and consistent manner is essential. Make sure to check out the student web site for review materials for each chapter.

Next week Mrs. Reed and Mr. Crowley will spend two days with us going over the structure of the exam and giving you insights as to how the readers score the essays. These unique insights will give you an added advantage.

We are still hoping that our trip to the NWC will occur on the 23rd...more details when you return.

World History

It was nice to take a break from wars and talk about Gandhi and his belief in non-violence. The award winning movie helped us get a better understanding of the obstacles that faced the 350 million Indians as they “fought” for their independence.

When you return we will have a short unit on the years between the wars and then begin our study of World War II.

Presidents Meet

This was an exciting week as our study of the Cold War came as President Obama met with world leaders from the 20 largest (economies) in London. The meeting of the G-20 comes at a crucial time as all nations struggle with unemployment and stagnate economies. As we watched the news cast, we could make connections to our study as we heard about NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and saw the President shake hands with the President of Russia, Mr. Medvedev, where they promised a “fresh start” in US-Russian relations. President Obama announced that he will be going to Moscow in July to meet with Medvedev to continue discussions on how to reduce the stock pile of nuclear weapons. One official from the meeting even suggested that the Presidents may even talk about the actual elimination of nuclear weapons.

President Obama also met with the President of China, HU Jintao. They spoke about how the economies of China and the US are intertwined and the success of one country will bring success to the other. President Obama also announced that he plans on continuing these discussions with a planned trip to China.

This week we read about President Kennedy’s meeting in Berlin in 1961 with Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of the Soviet Union. The meeting went very badly for Kennedy and he returned to the US committed to showing the Soviets that he would not be intimidated. This was the start of an arms race which was then linked to the Soviets building the Berlin Wall. We should be pleased that President Obama’s trip is being hailed as a success. He proposed ideas to move the world economy forward and he listened to recommendations from the other world leaders. You can see the links between our study of history and keeping up with current events.

CWI/Comparative Government/20th Century America

This week we completed our study of the Cold War in Europe and Korea. Your final assessment for this section will be next week and will consist of two parts: 10 multiple choice questions based on our text reading and a vocabulary writing assignment where you will be asked to use the words/terms from this unit. You will not be asked definitions but in order to prepare for the assessment you should have a good understanding of the new terms that were introduced. Your text reading, the handout and your worksheets will be a good review for this activity. In addition, you have your notes from the board.

Your Cold War cartoon is also due next week and this assignment will take the place of our current event. You have a description of your assignment and web sites where you can locate the cartoons. This can be a fun assignment as you look for a cartoon from the Cold War era.
Next week we will read about Vietnam. I would urge you to speak with family members about this time period as our readings may provide us with the facts and events of the time but the emotional toll it took on this country is difficult to convey. We will listen to music from the time period as we compare protest music with patriotic songs.

We are at the end of the quarter. You have your status of assignment sheet so you should know where you stand at this time.

AP European History

Your test on Chapter 30, The Cold War, is on April 8. You will have 40 multiple choice and one free response questions (three to choose from).

On Monday we will have our accountable talk discuss based on the primary course readings on student unrest. This unit should be especially appealing as many of the sources are cartoons. The AP exam usually has at least one for two political cartoons that you must analyze. I want to remind you that you must site from the text as you make observations and comments. Your ideas and opinions must be supported. This is good practice for the DBQ.

While there will be no formal assignment for the Spring break, I want to encourage you to be reviewing for the exam. I have given you two web sites that provide helpful hints for review and even recommend a schedule. Flash cards can be useful as you can take them along and study whenever you have a few moments. You will also find your study guides and bold to bold notes useful.

On April 21 and 22 Mrs. Reed and Mr. Crowley, both former AP European history teachers, will do a special workshop with you to help you prepare for the exam. Mr. Crowley has been a reader so he will have some special insights for you as we get closer to the big day.

World History

This week we finished our study of World War I. You handed in your packet and final map of Europe. Over the weekend you have a worksheet on India and the move towards independence led by Gandhi. You also have a map assignment. Next week we will watch clips from the award winning film Gandhi.