Category Archives: history

History is turned on its head

Posted on February 8, 2016 by

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

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

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

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
Posted in animation, earth, history | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Beware the Ides of March

Posted on March 14, 2014 by

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

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