I am still a bit disappointed in the way I am being forced to teach in order to keep up with the frenetic pace of the curriculum, especially in World History. The thought of teaching the history of the world in 90 90-minute periods is frightening. How can a teacher give any justice to vast history of any single culture when asked to teach under such conditions? It could be done, if I ask my freshman students to do independent research night after night on each of the civilizations we discuss. But I am not sure that would go over too well with a majority of the parents or any of the students. Even though there are fewer curriculum goals for World History than for Civics & Economics, many of the goals require instruction of entire civilizations in order to accomplish the task.
Today's Headlines:
Here To Stay (Slate.com)
When will people in government do what they swore to do the day they took office: defend and protect the Constitution of the United States?
Presidential Oath of Office:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, reserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
- United States Constitution, Article II, section 1, paragraph 8.
Congressional Oath of Office:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God.
- Act of Congress, 1884
If we as citizens of the United States of America, the greatest place in the world to live, continue to allow our civil liberties and freedoms to be eroded, we will not be able to proclaim such greatness. Our government will dominate us, silence us, oppress us. This is one "slippery slope" that once embarked upon will be difficult to take back. It is fear of our invisible enemies that will cause us to give up our most basic protections. But who will then protect us from our own government? The basic premise in the Declaration of Independence is the protection of natural rights. That we are all entitled to "life, liberty, " and property. [Thomas Jefferson changed the contemporary notion from "property" to "the pursuit of happiness" because of his problem with the institution of slavery, although he owned slaves himself.] What we are allowing to be created is a situation not unlike ancient Rome. The greatest empire on Earth allowed itself to become a dictatorship, instead of defending republicanism, in order to protect itself from the potential for civil war due to the disparity between the patricians and the plebeians. History is destined to repeat itself if we allow the expansion of eavesdropping powers and other violations of rights by the National Security Administration (NSA).
Again, "the Price of Freedom is eternal Vigilance."
Listen up! soccer parents, here's the drill (Newsobserver.com)
Yes, a nice article with which end today's entry. Although the article was inspired by parents who could not get along at a youth soccer game, it still contains some good advice. The main message is to be realistic. We are talking about kids here. Do not expect them to be more than kids. It is a difficult thing for grown-ups to learn. I had a difficult time with it myself. Teaching is made even more difficult if this simple rule cannot be remembered. Once I understood it, my job became infinitely easier. Allow kids to be kids, if you expect them to be adults too soon you will only be disappointed when they act like kids. Now, the most difficult part of my job is dealing with adults who act like kids. How can I overcome that?
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