Category Archives: history

“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

Posted on July 6, 2020 by jyourist

Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it has been faced. History is not the past. It is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history. If we pretend … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-racism, civil rights, equity, history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

2:1. 4/7/8. 3–4–5.

Posted on March 26, 2020 by jyourist

The previous blog, “Breathe”, was about 2:1 breathing as a good way to deal with stress and a variety of other ramped-up symptoms like insomnia, high blood pressure, and some digestive distress. A friend emailed me that she has been … Continue reading →

Posted in chicago, health, history, memoir | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

History is turned on its head

Posted on February 8, 2016 by jyourist

Today is the 100th anniversary of the opening of Birth of A Nation, at Clunes Auditorium in Los Angeles. The first feature length film ever produced (three hours and ten minutes), this film was the technical and acting tour de … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil War, film, history, movies, Reconstruction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Eric Foner makes my Bucket List yet again!

Posted on June 5, 2015 by jyourist

It was the last day of 8th grade today. Next week is graduation rehearsal and graduation, but today was the last day of classes. All my students’ papers have been graded and handed back, accomplished after some very late nights and … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reconstruction, relationship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Trench Warfare

Posted on April 25, 2015 by jyourist

My middle school classroom is set up with big tables which makes a great space for projects and group work. When there’s a test, however, the students are often on top of each other. Most of my students would never … Continue reading →

Posted in history, school, Teaching, World War I | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Seeking solace and connection and adventure

Posted on June 11, 2014 by jyourist

Eratosthenes (276 bce-194 bce), a Greek mathematician, geographer, astronomer, poet, and chief librarian at the Library of Alexandria calculated that 3,198 years ago to this very day, the sack of Troy occurred. Yes, 3,198 years ago, with the Trojan War … Continue reading →

Posted in garden, history, summer | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pale Blue Dot

Posted on April 22, 2014 by jyourist
Posted in animation, earth, history | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Beware the Ides of March

Posted on March 14, 2014 by jyourist

Every year at my school, on the Ides of March, one or another administrator is assassinated. This year two were offed. One at mid-morning break, the dean of students,  and the high school principal at lunch. The assassination is announced … Continue reading →

Posted in catharsis, death, history, school | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Problem – Olney – Pullman = No problem

Posted on March 11, 2014 by jyourist

In our Pullman debates today (our attempt to resolve the labor issues in the Pullman Strike of 1894), KM, who was playing Governor John Peter Altgeld, reduced it all down to a mathematical equation—Attorney General Richard Olney and George Pullman … Continue reading →

Posted in history, school, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Essential reciprocity

Posted on October 16, 2013 by jyourist

We have begun our study of the Constitution, looking at John Locke and actually exploring a short piece of his from his Second Treatise on Political Government. The students were surprised at how understandable he is. Today we examined the Declaration … Continue reading →

Posted in citizenship, education, history, school, Teaching | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment