Social Studies Propaganda

We've moved on from propaganda and North Korea.  Our lesson today actually dealt with happiness.  Or the lack of it in Iran.  (I guess, really it still ties in with North Korea - our lesson was about human rights, free speech, unlimited governments, modern political conflict...)

I also mentioned the Pope's visit to the Deheishe Refugee Camp.  I mean, we just finished watching Promises.  I've been corresponding a little bit with Sanabel.  I feel like I've heard a lot about Deheishe in the past couple weeks.

I also answered another one of the questions I received in that letter the other day: why isn't Israel considered to be part of Africa?  ...Because when we have a short amount of time to teach, and many students struggle with the basics - the basics is all you get.  But you're right - it's subjective.  But you've got to get the basics down so that you don't look foolish.  (No offense, Bieber - you know we love you.)

So, each one of the above paragraphs could be an entire blog post.  That's problem with keeping a classroom blog - there is so much that goes on in class every day.  There are so many different things I want to write about.

But I promised my students (and my brother) that I would post some of the Social Studies Propaganda Pictures my students made.

In our discussions of North Korea - and how the country uses propaganda to its advantage, I started wondering, why don't I do that?  Why don't I have my students make "Social Studies Propaganda?"  I mean, it would give them a better understanding of what propaganda is, how it works, and why it's used.  Also, maybe I can get some cool artwork for my classroom.

Mission Accomplished:

For those of you reading/discussing the blog with an adult, find a sheet of paper and write down which of the pictures is your favorite - then tell me why.  Have the adult you read the blog with sign the paper.  Put it in the extra credit tray when you get back.

In the meantime, have a great 3-day weekend.

Humans Hunger Hammurabi

Here's a quote from a book I'm reading:

 “...when children’s families are involved in school, the children earn higher grades, attend school more regularly, complete more homework, demonstrate more positive attitudes and behaviors, graduate from high school at higher rates, and are more likely to enroll in higher education than students with less involved families.”

It comes from the book: Bridging Multiple Worlds: Case Studies in Diverse Educational Communities.  (page 47)

I give that quote because I had a couple students who said to me today, "Geez, Mr. Habecker... my mom was wondering why you keep that blog in the first place.  It's basically what we did in class."

You're right.  And I want to say "THANK YOU" to all the moms and dads and step-moms and step-dads, grandparents, and uncles and aunts that are reading this thing.  It is what we're talking about in class.  The more we partner together, and talk about what we're doing in class - the better.  This way, too, you get to see what we're talking about - and if you disagree with what I'm saying you can say, "man, your teacher is wrong on this account!"  As a social studies teacher, I teach some pretty controversial topics.  I work hard to keep bias out of my presentation, as well as my writing on here.  But even then, it might creep in a little bit.  This way, you can read it and continue to instill your beliefs and values into your child.  I don't want to hide behind a classroom door.  I want to work with you to give your child the best education possible.  I know that's what you want too, so again I say thanks for reading.

That said, two hour delays REALLY shorten classes.  We did a paper today for bellwork comparing the Capitol of The Hunger Games to Pyongyang in North Korea.  We compared their governments, standard of living, the fear they used to stay in power.  ...  I'm going to see if I can attach it for the students that weren't in school today...

For the bellwork, they read an excerpt from a CNN article.  You can read it by clicking THIS LINK.

We also looked a picture that was posted on NPR's website.  Here's the picture: 

Article found HERE

Then (in some classes... stupid two hour delay...) we tied it all together by comparing Hammurabi, The Hunger Games, North Korea, and The USA... (I'm not going to have you discuss this with your kid though because we didn't get to it in every class...)

To get the extra credit, discuss the following questions with your family:
1.  What type of government do they have in both North Korea and The Hunger Games?
2.  How else are North Korea and The Hunger Games similar?
3.  What is the picture I posted on the blog depicting or showing?
4.  Why might North Korea want to limit the contact that their citizens have with other countries?

To get the extra credit for reading the blog, write the following quote on a piece of scrap paper: "I am no bird, and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will."  Students: have the adult you read this with sign the piece of scrap paper.  Adults: by signing the paper you are stating that you really did read the blog and discuss this stuff.

An interesting side note: a student asked me, how do you know that the students really are reading and discussing the blog?  I said because there's a different code word or phrase at the bottom of it every day.  He asked if the parents could just write that down and sign off on it.  I said, I supposed that they could.  Ultimately though, I believe that people want what's best for their kid.  Maybe there are a couple parents out there that are teaching your kids that cheating pays off, but I don't believe it.  I believe the majority of you are hard-working, dedicated people who want their kids (and step-kids, and grand kids, and nephews and nieces...) to succeed.  Again, I say thanks for all you do. 

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