It's been awhile since I thought about my fifth grade and eleventh grade teachers. Both of which have contributed to my passion for history. Though I didn't mention Mrs. Cranfield. Her role was still significant because she coupled her history lessons with poetry. Mrs. Yokie's class was the first time I was exposed to the subject that is history.
When I returned to school to pursue my education and decided I would be a history/ed major my first American history class was difficult because I had lost my dad a few months before. After each class I there was that ten year old who wanted to go tell daddy guess what I learned about Paul Revere. I also learned how intricate history was. For the first time one of my favorite school subjects became difficult to handle. My passion for history was embedded and didn't fully become uprooted because though my dad wasn't there to indulge me he had left a lasting impression, passion for history with me.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
HISTORY: Stories & Pop Culture
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Photo Credits:"The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" Henry Wadsworth Longfellowengravings & painting(s) by Christopher Bing http://littlelambbooks.blogspot.com/2011/04/midnight-ride-of-paul-revere.html accessed 4-24-12 Andrea Meyer, "Collage of Images related to the Culper Spy Ring and Benedict Arnold's Treason," in The Culper Spy Ring and Benedict Arnold, Item #823, http://aphdigital.org/projects/culperspyring/items/show/823 (accessed April 24, 2012). "Rosie the Riveter" Ad Council: http://www.adcouncil.org/our-work/The-Classics/Women-in-War-Jobs-Rosie-the -Riveter (accessed 4-19-12) "Movie Posters & Books" Time Magazine Special TITANIC: The Tragedy That Shook the World: One Century Later pp. 128-129. |
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
A Historical Tidbit & Reflection on Stories
Today while preparing for my Renaissance class final and watching the history channel I found something curious that I had knew known before. I was watching "Decoded" this show which basically cracks codes and solves mysteries by this historical fiction novelist Brad Meltzer.
This episode was about the very first spy chain or organization in the U.S also the predecessor to the C.I.A called the Culper Ring. Apparently George Washington was the master of the ring. These "ordinary folk" were the intelligence or the spies and there were about 20 of them. They didn't fully know who they all were which was helpful in avoiding getting caught, these people couldn't snitch to Britain no matter what cause they did not know.
The used invisible ink to write messages. They had a number codes in order to decipher messages and only four were made. Apparently this ring was paramount to discourage Benedict Arnold from selling out the Americans.
The most intriging thing I learned was that no one knew about this until the 1930s. These people's identities where hidden so well that they literally took their secrets to the grave. Meltzer's group and I both did not understand why it wasn't taught in our high school history courses. It wasn't taught in my college course either. If it was such a major piece of the Revolutionary War then why wasn't it covered?
We literally won the war based on our collective minds verses muscle power. Why leave it out, doesn't that leave a huge chuck out of the puzzle? If history is the story of man and all stories have a beginning, middle and idealistically an ending then why is this detail missing?
Stories are intriguing they teach us lessons whether they are fact or fiction or embellished. These parables handed down to us allow us to live vicariously through those who came before. How would we have done or reacted to (insert historical event). Life is short. We learn through our experiences and shared stories or rather other history.
The story of the Culper Ring provides early innovations that we still use today. This story also teaches us the value of our minds, whether we agree with these actions or not. Also there is no such thing as defeat unless you otherwise claim it.
History after is a teacher who provides us with some great stories and poessess many storytellers.
This episode was about the very first spy chain or organization in the U.S also the predecessor to the C.I.A called the Culper Ring. Apparently George Washington was the master of the ring. These "ordinary folk" were the intelligence or the spies and there were about 20 of them. They didn't fully know who they all were which was helpful in avoiding getting caught, these people couldn't snitch to Britain no matter what cause they did not know.
The used invisible ink to write messages. They had a number codes in order to decipher messages and only four were made. Apparently this ring was paramount to discourage Benedict Arnold from selling out the Americans.
The most intriging thing I learned was that no one knew about this until the 1930s. These people's identities where hidden so well that they literally took their secrets to the grave. Meltzer's group and I both did not understand why it wasn't taught in our high school history courses. It wasn't taught in my college course either. If it was such a major piece of the Revolutionary War then why wasn't it covered?
We literally won the war based on our collective minds verses muscle power. Why leave it out, doesn't that leave a huge chuck out of the puzzle? If history is the story of man and all stories have a beginning, middle and idealistically an ending then why is this detail missing?
Stories are intriguing they teach us lessons whether they are fact or fiction or embellished. These parables handed down to us allow us to live vicariously through those who came before. How would we have done or reacted to (insert historical event). Life is short. We learn through our experiences and shared stories or rather other history.
The story of the Culper Ring provides early innovations that we still use today. This story also teaches us the value of our minds, whether we agree with these actions or not. Also there is no such thing as defeat unless you otherwise claim it.
History after is a teacher who provides us with some great stories and poessess many storytellers.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Ponderings or Mental Ramblings
In a sense history is the study of the relationships between events and people. How folks are influenced by said events. In my Renaissance class we covered several key figures. From Henry VIII, Leonardo Da Vinci, Isabella d'Estelle, and Christopher Columbus.
Recently I found myself imagining what if these people were sitting in class with me. I'm not sure what prompted this. Maybe it had something to do with a forthcoming research project. Anyways, I found myself wondering if they were able to listen in on the lectures and hear their names mentioned how would they react. Would they be embarrassed? Would they feel honored that history hadn't forgotten; that several generations later humankind still recognizes them? Would they speak up and denounce any discrepancies in the historic record? Or would they stand up and unceremoniously say
"your welcome"--demonstrating an air of arrogance?
These questions are the ones that go unanswered, probably because these questions have little significance. Maybe these questions would give us insight to the historical figures that because of many centuries are not as personable to us.
Recently I found myself imagining what if these people were sitting in class with me. I'm not sure what prompted this. Maybe it had something to do with a forthcoming research project. Anyways, I found myself wondering if they were able to listen in on the lectures and hear their names mentioned how would they react. Would they be embarrassed? Would they feel honored that history hadn't forgotten; that several generations later humankind still recognizes them? Would they speak up and denounce any discrepancies in the historic record? Or would they stand up and unceremoniously say
"your welcome"--demonstrating an air of arrogance?
These questions are the ones that go unanswered, probably because these questions have little significance. Maybe these questions would give us insight to the historical figures that because of many centuries are not as personable to us.
A Clue to the History Classroom
I'm excited! While I was other fun activities/assignments for my online module I stumbled upon this amazing site called The National Archive:Docs Teach. It allows social studies (history) teachers to pair their assignments/activities with primary documents. There is a print feature for the documents so teachers can use it in their classrooms as well as online.They provide templates and guidelines how to make an activity too. This appeals to me on two fronts. My history nerdy self and my future teaching self. Only I have two regrets. Where was this when I needed something for my Tech Overview and why didn't I find this sooner? Oh, well the wealth of information and the activities create so many possibilities.
This will be an amasing tool someday for my classroom. However, in the meantime I wonder if I can use it for my studying history needs. It's worth the exploration. So many interests so little time.
I wonder if Leonardo Da Vinci ever said those words? He had so many different interests how did he make time for them all? Anyways, I am currently delving into his world for a research project. That's the best part about history. Historians are almost like detectives. We look at sources primary and secondary as if they were clues. Clues into a society apart from the modern world but at times we find that the chronicles of yester-year are prefaces to how we perceive our own lives. For example what would life be like in America if we hadn't won the American Revolution? What would be our citizenship status/identity entail?
This will be an amasing tool someday for my classroom. However, in the meantime I wonder if I can use it for my studying history needs. It's worth the exploration. So many interests so little time.
I wonder if Leonardo Da Vinci ever said those words? He had so many different interests how did he make time for them all? Anyways, I am currently delving into his world for a research project. That's the best part about history. Historians are almost like detectives. We look at sources primary and secondary as if they were clues. Clues into a society apart from the modern world but at times we find that the chronicles of yester-year are prefaces to how we perceive our own lives. For example what would life be like in America if we hadn't won the American Revolution? What would be our citizenship status/identity entail?
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