P.R.

Well, progress reports came out today. Overall, grades were good - though there were a couple bad grades in the mix. It's interesting that I'm offering more extra credit than ever, and I still have some students with low grades...

At any rate, you can get some extra credit today by discussing the following with an adult - preferably one that you live with, like a parent, or auntie, etc...

Tell what happened in today's segment of Gandhi. What points did Mr. Cowells stop it? Why?

Compare what's happening/ what happened to the Indians to the Burmese in "Shooting an Elephant" or the Banananovians, or the various continents in the colonization simulation.

Make a prediction: if the British leave India, what's going to happen?

To get the extra credit today, write the following on a sheet of scrap paper: "Nice beard, Mr. Frantz. I read and discussed this leap-blog with ___________." Then, have the adult you discussed it with sign on the line.




Image Credit: TheSayGi

Amritsar Massacre

I understand that the students got to the Amritsar Massacre today.  (You can watch the clip below.  Fair warning, it's probably the most intense scene in the movie.)





The Indian Independence Movement is interesting.  It's interesting because it mainly manifested itself nonviolently.  Now, that's not to say there wasn't a loss of blood.  There was much blood lost - as this clip shows.  But it's different than the U.S. route to independence - through war.  Or, Australia - which gained its independence gradually over the course of many years without any bloodshed at all.

To get the extra credit for today's blog entry discuss what has happened so far in Gandhi with an adult in your household.  Make sure to mention the Amritsar Massacre and what happened to General Dyer (if you know.)  Talk about what Gandhi wants, and why.  Discuss what is meant by civil disobedience and nonviolent, noncooperation.

Then, to prove you read and discussed the blog, write down the following sentences: "All hail Cowells-ji!  I read and discussed the blog with _____________________."  Have the adult you discussed the blog with sign the paper.

Tomorrow, tomorrow...

I'll have more extra credit up tomorrow.  I promise.

In the meantime, enjoy your evening, or morning, or wherever/whenever you are.

¡Gandhi!

It seems as though Mr. Cowells, Mr. Swanson, and Mr. Frantz watch Gandhi the way I read The Hunger Games.   ...You know... stopping every few seconds or minutes to talk about how it ties in with social studies.

I'm sure it's super-annoying, but no doubt also super helpful.  There is SO much in that movie.  It's one of the top 3 things I'm asked every year by former students: have you started Gandhi yet?  And generally, it's followed by some accolade or another...  My point is the interruptions enhance the film rather than detract from it.

To get the extra credit tonight, discuss what you watched in class with an adult that you live with.  I want you to mention 3 different places the film was stopped and discussed.  Tell why Mr. Cowells (or whoever stopped the film) stopped it and what they were pointing out.

Finally, write down the following quote on a piece of paper, and have the adult sign it.  "I discussed three times the movie Gandhi stopped with the person who signed this paper."

One last thing.  I had some people ask about pictures of my new baby.  Here are a couple.  I'll add Mr. Frantz too.  I hope he doesn't mind.  He seems like a nice guy.

No E.C. today

Sorry all of you point-savvy people out there.  There's no extra credit today.  Word on the street is class went well though.

Baby number three (Penelope Jane) is adorable.  I'll try not to inundate the blog with pictures.