RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update)

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jwarrenw13 -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (10/8/2005 7:50:17 PM)
Rhonda A couple of random comments about things I've seen in the thread: ADHD etc. One thing I note is that kids today in general seem less focused and more distracted and with shorter attention spans and less social maturity than in the past. And I have noticed this even in the 13 years I've been teaching. I don't know what to make of it, except that it is likely cultural, meaning US mass culture. Maybe it is the influence of technology. I don't know. I taught 12.5 years at a nearly 100% rural poor minority school, and even among that demographic, I noted a decrease in the social maturity level and focus of the kids in those 12 years. Now I'm teaching in a more upscale school, with a mix of upper class to very poor white and black kids with a sprinkling of a very few other ethnic groups, yet I notice the same lack of social maturity and focus. Again, when I was in HS, granted many years ago, we did not think about getting up from our desks w/o permission, and we did not put our heads down on our desks to go to sleep, and we did not ask to go to the bathroom during class, etc. We just did not do it. And I am sure that we had kids who were ADHD. In fact people tell me I am probably ADHD. But today kids lack all focus. Earlier this week a girl asked me a question. I was standing right beside her. Even as I started to answer her question, she turned and started talking to a girl next to her. And she did not do it on purpose. She was avery apologetic when I corrected her. But her attention span was like 5 seconds. And this is not unusual. Well, enough of that. Computers. I understand what you mean about technology in the classroom. People may think we have lots of computers when we don't. At my school, in one of the most successful and affluent districts in the state, we just got win xp computers, one per teacher. Two weeks ago. Now I am fortunate as the yearbook adviser to have a small lab with about a dozen old win 98 computers, but they are on their last legs, and I allow no one to use them except the yearbook staff. They barely have enough ram and memory to use Pagemaker to do yearbook pages. And we are going to need new ones when our company upgrades its software in a couple of years. I am also fortunate to have a big screen tv and one old win 98 computer with the proper hookup, so a lot of my notes and instructions to the class are done on powerpoint. But that computer also has problems, and it locks up if not rebooted frequently. I recall going to a workshop once on 'the one-computer classroom.' The state was pushing the use of technology in the classroom and insisting that you could do wonderful things with one computer in the classroom. The very first thing the consultant said was, 'Get a big screen tv,' which provoked a mixture of laughter and anger from the participants. And when letting students use the computer, you have the problem of having to watch them constantly. They will change the settings. Some will sabotage their computers. And most are far more interested in their own sites than in researching Edgar Allen Poe online, lol. As far as current events, I also note that many kids today have no desire at all to keep track of current events. Once again, when I was in HS (class of 71), we kept up with current events. I remember a friend who was kicked out of American history class for arguing with the teacher about the Soviets putting down the democratic revolution in Czechoslovakia. He was right. She was wrong, not that it mattered, lol. But I see very few kids who have an interest in current events today. Enough rambling. Have a good day.

rhondabrwn -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (10/8/2005 8:43:13 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JW Rhonda A couple of random comments about things I've seen in the thread: ADHD etc. One thing I note is that kids today in general seem less focused and more distracted and with shorter attention spans and less social maturity than in the past. And I have noticed this even in the 13 years I've been teaching. I don't know what to make of it, except that it is likely cultural, meaning US mass culture. Maybe it is the influence of technology. I don't know. I taught 12.5 years at a nearly 100% rural poor minority school, and even among that demographic, I noted a decrease in the social maturity level and focus of the kids in those 12 years. Now I'm teaching in a more upscale school, with a mix of upper class to very poor white and black kids with a sprinkling of a very few other ethnic groups, yet I notice the same lack of social maturity and focus. Again, when I was in HS, granted many years ago, we did not think about getting up from our desks w/o permission, and we did not put our heads down on our desks to go to sleep, and we did not ask to go to the bathroom during class, etc. We just did not do it. And I am sure that we had kids who were ADHD. In fact people tell me I am probably ADHD. But today kids lack all focus. Earlier this week a girl asked me a question. I was standing right beside her. Even as I started to answer her question, she turned and started talking to a girl next to her. And she did not do it on purpose. She was avery apologetic when I corrected her. But her attention span was like 5 seconds. And this is not unusual. Well, enough of that. Computers. I understand what you mean about technology in the classroom. People may think we have lots of computers when we don't. At my school, in one of the most successful and affluent districts in the state, we just got win xp computers, one per teacher. Two weeks ago. Now I am fortunate as the yearbook adviser to have a small lab with about a dozen old win 98 computers, but they are on their last legs, and I allow no one to use them except the yearbook staff. They barely have enough ram and memory to use Pagemaker to do yearbook pages. And we are going to need new ones when our company upgrades its software in a couple of years. I am also fortunate to have a big screen tv and one old win 98 computer with the proper hookup, so a lot of my notes and instructions to the class are done on powerpoint. But that computer also has problems, and it locks up if not rebooted frequently. I recall going to a workshop once on 'the one-computer classroom.' The state was pushing the use of technology in the classroom and insisting that you could do wonderful things with one computer in the classroom. The very first thing the consultant said was, 'Get a big screen tv,' which provoked a mixture of laughter and anger from the participants. And when letting students use the computer, you have the problem of having to watch them constantly. They will change the settings. Some will sabotage their computers. And most are far more interested in their own sites than in researching Edgar Allen Poe online, lol. As far as current events, I also note that many kids today have no desire at all to keep track of current events. Once again, when I was in HS (class of 71), we kept up with current events. I remember a friend who was kicked out of American history class for arguing with the teacher about the Soviets putting down the democratic revolution in Czechoslovakia. He was right. She was wrong, not that it mattered, lol. But I see very few kids who have an interest in current events today. Enough rambling. Have a good day. It's always good to know that we aren't alone with our problems out here! We are definitely on the same page. I have to constantly cruise the computer bank to keep my kids focused and to check for the music video or cheezy game site they have running minimized. Fortunately, no sabotage of the computers - the worst I have to deal with is weird desktop wallpaper that changes constantly. Change of topic... Yesterday was the last day of the 1st quarter and there was a dance for the 5-8th grades. Quite an experience, we had 5 girls get into a fight over a boy. The poor boy (who is definitely the cutest guy in the school)was getting chased the whole dance by the girls and sought shelter by helping at the concession table so they couldn't get to him [:D] It was fun, but I was glad to see the kids on the bus so I could come home and start enjoying my week off! And just in time to get excited about the Matrix acquisition of the Talonsoft line! I have high hopes for using the updated versions in my classroom in the not so far distant future!

rhondabrwn -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (10/9/2005 8:15:43 AM)
Good News! HPS has just agreed to help me with my project. Matrix had voiced their willingness to help out a few days ago. Now with the Matrix acquisition of the Talonsoft line, I'm going to have everything that I need! Now to get more equipment in my classroom and get the District Computer Administration Manager's blessing! Many thanks to Matrix and HPS! [&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o]

rhondabrwn -> Good Things Happening! (10/19/2005 2:28:16 AM)
Oh Happy Day! My computer projector just arrived today, along with a scanner and an Epson PhotoStylus R300 printer! Also got a new internet connection at the school so I can finally have a secure location for building a multi-media workstation. Things are looking up! I also now have a Laserjet 4250 awaiting installation to cover my student needs for casual printing. Now if they will just buy me some paper.... [:D]

Cap Mandrake -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (10/19/2005 6:27:23 AM)
Rhonda...fantastic pictures. I have always wanted to visit Canyon de Chelly. Check out he entire "4-corners" area, including Monument Valley and Mesa Verde Nat Park. Zion is also sublime. Also you can try "canyoneering". It is unbelievable fun. There are literally thousands of slot canyons in the Southwest and you dont need climing gear if you pick the right ones..just waterproof boots, but do go with a hiking buddy and if it starts raining run like Hell [:D] [img]http://www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/photographs450/lwestbutler2.jpg[/img] West Butler cyn North of Lake Powell PS..good luck on your teaching thing. [:)]

rhondabrwn -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (10/19/2005 6:46:48 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake Rhonda...fantastic pictures. I have always wanted to visit Canyon de Chelly. Check out he entire "4-corners" area, including Monument Valley and Mesa Verde Nat Park. Zion is also sublime. Also you can try "canyoneering". It is unbelievable fun. There are literally thousands of slot canyons in the Southwest and you dont need climing gear if you pick the right ones..just waterproof boots, but do go with a hiking buddy and if it starts raining run like Hell [:D] [img]http://www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/photographs450/lwestbutler2.jpg[/img] West Butler cyn North of Lake Powell PS..good luck on your teaching thing. [:)] Good advice (especially the running part)! I'm sorry that I've been so busy lately at the school that I've barely had a chance to do any sightseeing so no new pictures to share. However, I did finally get to head out on one of those private dirt roads up into the Chuska mountains last Saturday. I had a fellow Navajo school teacher over for dinner and she needed to drop something off with some relatives so off we went.... Incredible experience.... the pictures I could have gotten if I had thought to bring my camera! So close to the mountain, no roads, no buildings, no powerlines.... just gorgeous peaks standing out against the evening sky. Gotta go back! I now know why you need a 4X4 though... the ruts in that road were two feet deep in spots. I needed the rock rails on my Liberty several times (and this is a well traveled "summer" road - her relatives abandon their mountain homes and head down into the valley once winter arrives). Hopefully, I still have some time to get out before the first snow hits and things get dangerous up here. No one knows what to expect this winter. The last few have been relatively dry but we had a very, very wet fall... a bad sign if you are afraid of snow. Top snowfall in recent memory was 60 inches. I've blown my last paycheck stocking up on canned goods, flour, and rice. I'm ready to be isolated [:)]

rhondabrwn -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (11/2/2005 12:06:58 PM)
Well Halloween has come and gone. I handed out about 10 bags of candy to untold numbers of kids. It was really nice - it reminded me of those days (long ago) when parents weren't afraid to let their kids go out (and we used to blanket every house within 6 or 8 blocks of home!). Of course, "teacher housing" is a prime target for trick or treating when many houses ("hogans") are a mile apart (it's a long walk to the neighbors!). It was fun. However, my last group of the evening was a very large group of my students (about 14 of them)who begged me to let them come inside and get warm. Well, I did... before realizing that the group included some older kids who I did not know! Now I have my guitar amps sitting in the living room these days along with a few guitars which everyone saw. When they left everything seemed fine, but the next morning I opened my refrigerator to find about two dozen eggs missing! I don't need to tell you what that probably led to! I got to the school to find that, indeed, there had been a small group of boys egging cars. One of my students got caught in the act. The police were called in to identify and check out the group and I don't know what will be done with the kids. Several of them weren't in school today. The real bad news came later when the principal called me down to advise that those "kids" who were tagging along with the group were known thieves with juvenile criminal records. The police wanted me warned that I would probably be targeted for a break-in and to take precautions. My principal said she had been broken into 4 times so far and that thieves would come into teacher housing in broad daylight because they would know that everyone would be at the school. Argh! I have 7 rather expensive guitars and extensive electronics which I now am in the process of moving out to friend's houses for temporary security. I just spent several hours backing up my hard drive in case my computer would be stolen (had to make sure I had copies of all my Matrix games, of course!). Visited all my neighbors to advise them to be on the lookout (fortunately, the teacher next door has a husband who is home days and he will be listening for my dogs and watching out. Others will be watching evenings. It was a nice chance to chat with everyone (and find out who had been burglarized before... which was most of them). I screwed my back door shut and barricaded it with boxes of books (I needed a place to stick them anyway....)and put a lock on the gate to my fenced yard. I need to get a deadbolt on the front door tomorrow and get that installed. I won't make it easy for somebody... and my dogs will be some deterrence (though I'd rather lose everything than have my dogs killed or injured)! Anyway, I thought I should share the bad with the good. Many Navajo are extremely poor and for many it is a matter of doing what it takes to survive. I have a steady stream of people coming to my door with stories about "relatives being taken to the hospital and can I give them gas money to go see them" (but you can smell the alcohol 10 feet away so you know what they are actually looking for <sigh>. Some are on the up and up though and I have bought jewelry, crafts, small Navajo rugs and so forth to help them out. About $30 a paycheck goes to some form of charity, but I've also gotten very good at saying know. It all just goes to show how important it is to educate the kids and to keep them off drugs and alcohol! We just finished a week of anti-drug and alcohol programs, poster contests, essay contests and so forth. It's a big priority because it is such a problem. Meth is rapidly becoming the major problem I have been told... sad news, but if things were perfect out here, I wouldn't be here to teach. Keep you fingers crossed for me that I don't get burglarized, but I'm past the point of worrying about material possessions in my life so I'll still be smiling and happy regardless. It also helps to be insured! Stay tuned for further developments.

rhondabrwn -> Dark Tales (11/24/2005 11:02:42 AM)
Last Monday night one of our Navajo teachers left her patio door unlocked and a rapist slipped in and assaulted her. She was dragged around the house by her hair and beaten rather badly, but managed to get to the front door and got outside and started screaming for help. The assailant ran away. Later he was tracked into the woods behind my house, but they lost the trail there. A bit of a scary reminder that as peaceful as it seems out here, there are real dangers. I, for one, habitually open my front door without hesitation as people stop by all the time to visit, borrow DVD's, beg for money etc etc. I guess I should be more cautious and I probably rely on my dogs a bit too much for protection. The teacher who was assaulted had a "big mean Rottweiler" but when the intruder opened the gate the dog was too interested in going for a run to provide any protection! I know from experience that my Rat Terriers will attack a stranger if I'm not telling them "it's OK". People rely too much out here on having Rottweilers and Pit Bulls chained in their yards. A petition was started at the school demanding that the school district improve security in Teacher Housing. I also found out that it often takes up to two hours to get police up here if they are called... that is certainly discouraging. On top of all this, the Wells Fargo Bank down in Chinle was held up at gunpoint by a half dozen young men a couple of weeks ago. They didn't, however, have any get-a-way vehicle and tried to escape on foot with their loot and four of them were quickly apprehended. Haven't heard if they rounded up the other two, but they were incredibly inept as bank robbers. Gee, it sounds like the wild west doesn't it? "Sheriff... the Yazzie brothers are holding up Wells Fargo!" We've had quite a crime spree in the last month. We even had a gang fight up at the gas station and someone got his throat slashed. They are tightening up security at the school too as people have been walking into the building. Other than that... life is great out here in the Navajo Nation. I'm having Thanksgiving with a Navajo family tomorrow and I'm looking forward to that socializing. I'm going out exploring this weekend with another Navajo friend who can take me out on the back roads. Hopefully I'll have some neat pictures to post. I've been too busy at school to do much sightseeing for the past month. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

jwarrenw13 -> RE: Dark Tales (11/24/2005 7:12:31 PM)
Rhonda, I understand. Working for the last 12 years with very poor minority kids in a poor rural area, I heard lots of those stories. Fortunately for me, though, I did not live in that area and drove 25 miles a day from my nice suburban home to teach there. But I know all about the way some kids will do. I learned real quick that I could not leave anything of value unsecured in the classroom. It would be gone in a second. And we had some interesting discussions on stealing, with some students absolutely claiming they had a right to take things from people who had more, essentially from 'the man.' Now I teach at a more diverse school with everything from rich to poor kids, about half white and half black with some Latinos and Asians. But I still have to be extra careful about leaving anything unsecure. So I feel for you, having to deal with this with your home. Do you have any protection besides the dogs? Like a pistol (or if you don't like firearms, pepper spray) or something? Thanks for sharing all this. Things are going fine at my school. I'm off for the entire week of Thanksgiving, something traditional in most Louisiana schools. But I spent two solid days, Saturday and Sunday, and part of Monday doing final checks on yearbook pages for a Monday deadline and then submitting them online. And then a day doing lesson plans for the period up to the Christmas holiday. Lol, we teachers have it easy. I enjoy the work, though. And I always remind myself that the hours are so much better than during my Army career. We have settled down since Katrina. I still have five Katrina refugees in my classes. One family tried to go home a couple of weeks ago but came back, saying there just weren't enough facilities open for them, and the school opening had been delayed. Looks like some of them will be leaving over Christmas holiday though.

rhondabrwn -> RE: Dark Tales (11/24/2005 8:39:16 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JW Rhonda, I understand. Working for the last 12 years with very poor minority kids in a poor rural area, I heard lots of those stories. Fortunately for me, though, I did not live in that area and drove 25 miles a day from my nice suburban home to teach there. But I know all about the way some kids will do. I learned real quick that I could not leave anything of value unsecured in the classroom. It would be gone in a second. And we had some interesting discussions on stealing, with some students absolutely claiming they had a right to take things from people who had more, essentially from 'the man.' Now I teach at a more diverse school with everything from rich to poor kids, about half white and half black with some Latinos and Asians. But I still have to be extra careful about leaving anything unsecure. So I feel for you, having to deal with this with your home. Do you have any protection besides the dogs? Like a pistol (or if you don't like firearms, pepper spray) or something? Thanks for sharing all this. Things are going fine at my school. I'm off for the entire week of Thanksgiving, something traditional in most Louisiana schools. But I spent two solid days, Saturday and Sunday, and part of Monday doing final checks on yearbook pages for a Monday deadline and then submitting them online. And then a day doing lesson plans for the period up to the Christmas holiday. Lol, we teachers have it easy. I enjoy the work, though. And I always remind myself that the hours are so much better than during my Army career. We have settled down since Katrina. I still have five Katrina refugees in my classes. One family tried to go home a couple of weeks ago but came back, saying there just weren't enough facilities open for them, and the school opening had been delayed. Looks like some of them will be leaving over Christmas holiday though. My daughter was recommending getting some Mace or something too, but that really isn't my style. I'm open and friendly and trusting and I share with my students that I would rather take the chance of having someone steal from me than to treat all my students as thieves and lock everything away. So far, I've had nothing stolen, despite leaving DVD's laying around on my desk, leaving my DVD player out and unlocked, my bookbag and purse on the desk and so forth. Of course, I am fully prepared to accept any loss if I am going to demonstrate honor and trust to my students. So far it seems to be working and I have very good relationships with all my students... kinda like I was their mom (a caring, non-abusive mom). I guess I want to say that at my age, it is more important to me to make a personal statement about how one should live than it is to worry about my personal safety or possessions. God, I sound like a coach out of the next Karate Kid movie... or a Mother Teresa wannabe! Last night, I opened my door to three people (two men and a woman) who I vaguely knew (they are related to one of my students) who were begging me for a ride about six miles down the road to take some starting fluid and a special wrench for a locking hub so they could change a tire. I had given one of them a ride once before (I think). So, I grabbed my keys and we all piled into my Jeep and had a nice little expedition out into the hinterlands on rutted Jeep trails to their house. It occurred to me that they could pull out a gun and shoot me or something, but I was never worried and I had a good time chatting with them. I really do bond with the Navajo as I build new friendships all of the time. They know that I genuinely care and want to help and I just hope that I can be a model for others. It does seem like the people who get victimized out here tend to be the ones who obsess about their security and distrust everyone, but it doesn't keep them safe. Yep, I'm hopelessly naieve, but at this point in my life, I really have made peace with myself and material possessions and personal safety seem irrelevant. If I had an opportunity to go into a war zone with Doctor's Without Borders to help refugees, I think I would volunteer in an instant. Hey, thanks for caring and you provide some good advice (even if I'll probably continue my high risk behavior out here). I'm confident that I'll be safe... and I am a pretty big girl who knows how to fight back if attacked. And now, my turkey is almost done and I'll be heading over to my friend's house to have Thanksgiving dinner with her family. Happy Thanksgiving to all! [sm=00000924.gif]

jwarrenw13 -> RE: Dark Tales (11/26/2005 4:33:41 AM)
I understand your feelings and your motives. You're a pretty good person based on what I've read. Just be careful out there. And remember what Reagan said: Trust but verify. I've done some favors for kids, driving them all manner of places, etc., where you wonder where you are going to end up. Driving down some gravel road along a bayou in the dark can be interesting, especially when you hear a kid asking whether or not a carjack would be appropriate.

rhondabrwn -> RE: Dark Tales (11/26/2005 7:57:28 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JW I understand your feelings and your motives. You're a pretty good person based on what I've read. Just be careful out there. And remember what Reagan said: Trust but verify. I've done some favors for kids, driving them all manner of places, etc., where you wonder where you are going to end up. Driving down some gravel road along a bayou in the dark can be interesting, especially when you hear a kid asking whether or not a carjack would be appropriate. Oh yes, I understand completely. I guess we've both "been there" [:)] And I promise to be careful. Yesterday I had to go up to the corner FINA gas station (the only business in Tsaile) to pump up a tire that was going low on me. The hose was around the corner of the building and there were five guys hanging out... gang members (judging by their dress). I locked my car and had my "panic button" close at hand as I went up to them, greeted them politely, and then got the hose and filled my tire. I was definitely nervous, but didn't show it. There was a gang fight at this station last month and a throat got slashed so I suspect these are the "winners" of the turf war. Anyway, I was fine. I wouldn't have taken that chance if it had been after the store closed, of course. There were people out front pumping gas so I wasn't alone. Life is an adventure!

Lt. Calley -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (11/27/2005 9:29:06 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: rhondabrwn A special plea... I would appreciate your recommendations on favorite historical movies, especially the older ones that may not come to mind. I don't always show the whole movie so feel free to recommend titles that contain a few scenes that would be enlightening for an American History class. I can pull out clips and embed them into a PowerPoint. The other part of my philosophy is to try and use wargames to demonstrate battles. This has been problematic for several reasons (but I shall overcome!). Frank Capra's "Why We Fight" series would have lots of useful stuff although since it was produced for the US government during WW2 it does not have any negative references to Stalin and basically ignores the negative effects upon Germany of the Treaty of Versailles. When I was in ROTC in the mid-1970's I remember my class played a wargame using hand-drawn maps with the instructor as referee and 'die roller'. The class was divided into 2 teams of 4 or 5 people each, with one team playing the Union and the other the Confederacy. Each side commanded the the forces that were available along the Mississsippi river in early 1863. I was on the Confederate team. The main objective of my team was to hold on to Vicksburg, but if we could somehow manage to take the main Union base (Memphis?) we would also win. I convinced my team to adopt my plan of leaving Vicksburg temporarily weak and sending the rest of the Confederate forces to try to destroy the Union army near New Orleans. My plan worked primarily because of the timidity of the opposing team. Nevertheless the instructor chewed me out for forgetting the foremost principle of war, namely 'objective' because I took too much of a risk in leaving Vicksburg open while going off essentially on a wild goose chase. Maybe you could do something similar using Grigsby's World at War -- divide the class into 5 teams, each of them taking one of the 5 major powers, and have them write down their orders on a piece of paper which you would enter into the computer using your best judgement. I have only looked at the demo of GGWAW so I don't really know how well that would work.

wesy -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (11/27/2005 10:34:05 AM)
Hi Rhonda, Well this is a Japanese film from the 50's but the themes are universal and transcend race with no political bent on blame for the war. It's a movie from the Japanese perspective - which is so different that what most people see - ie stereotyped images, the Mr. Mayagi's etc. - It was nominated for a best foreign film in '57. I saw this back in college and it really affected in a very positive way. Biruma no tategoto (1956) aka "The Burmese Harp" Directed by Kon Ichikawa http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049012/ Burmese Harp on IMDB.COM Plot Summary: July, 1945: Japan's army is on the run, a weary Japanese regiment is sent on a military campaign to Burma. Far from zealous, determined career soldiers, the troop consists of ordinary, dutiful civilians led by a thoughtful music teacher named Captain Inouye (Rentaro Mikune). In order to improve morale and build camaraderie, Captain Inouye has taught the soldiers to sing as they make their way through the arduous Burmese jungle. One soldier, Corporal Mizushima (Shoji Yasui), has naturally taken to playing his handcrafted harp and provides the haunting melody. Arriving at a peasant village, the soldiers welcome the tranquility and hospitality of the community, only to realize that British soldiers have been surreptitiously observing them. In order to disguise their combat preparations, the soldiers sing "Home Sweet Home" while donning their military equipment. But during a brief pause, they realize that the British soldiers have joined in their melancholic, universal harmony. The war is over. The Japanese have surrendered. The British soldiers have come to escort the troop to a Prisoner of War camp in Mudon. However, Mizushima is asked to perform a final mission: to persuade a group of Japanese soldiers hiding in the mountains to surrender. The task proves to be impossible, and the fortress is attacked. Mizushima is critically wounded, but is nursed back to health by a Buddhist priest. Now clad in a monastic robe instead of a military uniform, Mizushima sets out to reunite with his regiment, only to find a solemn, urgent personal calling that leads him further away from his friends and beloved homeland. The Burmese Harp is a haunting, poignant and serenely indelible examination of the aftermath of war. The film opens with the spare, enigmatic words: In Burma, soil is red, so are rocks. Using landscape as a metaphor for the isolation and suffering of the soul, Kon Ichikawa contrasts the chaotic, harsh realities of war with the tranquil expanse of nature: the mountain fortress attack; the discovery of a body leaning against a tree in the jungle; the mass burial of soldiers along the shoreline. Symbolically, Mizushima's spiritual transformation is reflected in a scene where the troop assembles for choral practice at a religious site, as Mizushima rests inside the hull (the figurative soul) of a Buddha statue. It is a reflection of his own enlightenment and sense of purpose after witnessing a great and senseless tragedy - a transcendence beyond his spiritual captivity - towards a lonely, indefinite journey, guided solely by humanity and personal conscience. (Taken fron "Strictly Film School")

rhondabrwn -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (11/28/2005 10:05:50 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: wesy Hi Rhonda, Well this is a Japanese film from the 50's but the themes are universal and transcend race with no political bent on blame for the war. It's a movie from the Japanese perspective - which is so different that what most people see - ie stereotyped images, the Mr. Mayagi's etc. - It was nominated for a best foreign film in '57. I saw this back in college and it really affected in a very positive way. Biruma no tategoto (1956) aka "The Burmese Harp" Directed by Kon Ichikawa http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049012/ Burmese Harp on IMDB.COM Plot Summary: July, 1945: Japan's army is on the run, a weary Japanese regiment is sent on a military campaign to Burma. Far from zealous, determined career soldiers, the troop consists of ordinary, dutiful civilians led by a thoughtful music teacher named Captain Inouye (Rentaro Mikune). In order to improve morale and build camaraderie, Captain Inouye has taught the soldiers to sing as they make their way through the arduous Burmese jungle. One soldier, Corporal Mizushima (Shoji Yasui), has naturally taken to playing his handcrafted harp and provides the haunting melody. Arriving at a peasant village, the soldiers welcome the tranquility and hospitality of the community, only to realize that British soldiers have been surreptitiously observing them. In order to disguise their combat preparations, the soldiers sing "Home Sweet Home" while donning their military equipment. But during a brief pause, they realize that the British soldiers have joined in their melancholic, universal harmony. The war is over. The Japanese have surrendered. The British soldiers have come to escort the troop to a Prisoner of War camp in Mudon. However, Mizushima is asked to perform a final mission: to persuade a group of Japanese soldiers hiding in the mountains to surrender. The task proves to be impossible, and the fortress is attacked. Mizushima is critically wounded, but is nursed back to health by a Buddhist priest. Now clad in a monastic robe instead of a military uniform, Mizushima sets out to reunite with his regiment, only to find a solemn, urgent personal calling that leads him further away from his friends and beloved homeland. The Burmese Harp is a haunting, poignant and serenely indelible examination of the aftermath of war. The film opens with the spare, enigmatic words: In Burma, soil is red, so are rocks. Using landscape as a metaphor for the isolation and suffering of the soul, Kon Ichikawa contrasts the chaotic, harsh realities of war with the tranquil expanse of nature: the mountain fortress attack; the discovery of a body leaning against a tree in the jungle; the mass burial of soldiers along the shoreline. Symbolically, Mizushima's spiritual transformation is reflected in a scene where the troop assembles for choral practice at a religious site, as Mizushima rests inside the hull (the figurative soul) of a Buddha statue. It is a reflection of his own enlightenment and sense of purpose after witnessing a great and senseless tragedy - a transcendence beyond his spiritual captivity - towards a lonely, indefinite journey, guided solely by humanity and personal conscience. (Taken fron "Strictly Film School") Sounds very interesting. Upon checking NetFlix though, I can't find a listing so it must not be readily available. [:(] I'll keep an eye out for it though, now that you've alerted me to it. Thanks!

rhondabrwn -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (11/28/2005 10:12:58 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Lt. Calley quote: ORIGINAL: rhondabrwn A special plea... I would appreciate your recommendations on favorite historical movies, especially the older ones that may not come to mind. I don't always show the whole movie so feel free to recommend titles that contain a few scenes that would be enlightening for an American History class. I can pull out clips and embed them into a PowerPoint. The other part of my philosophy is to try and use wargames to demonstrate battles. This has been problematic for several reasons (but I shall overcome!). Frank Capra's "Why We Fight" series would have lots of useful stuff although since it was produced for the US government during WW2 it does not have any negative references to Stalin and basically ignores the negative effects upon Germany of the Treaty of Versailles. When I was in ROTC in the mid-1970's I remember my class played a wargame using hand-drawn maps with the instructor as referee and 'die roller'. The class was divided into 2 teams of 4 or 5 people each, with one team playing the Union and the other the Confederacy. Each side commanded the the forces that were available along the Mississsippi river in early 1863. I was on the Confederate team. The main objective of my team was to hold on to Vicksburg, but if we could somehow manage to take the main Union base (Memphis?) we would also win. I convinced my team to adopt my plan of leaving Vicksburg temporarily weak and sending the rest of the Confederate forces to try to destroy the Union army near New Orleans. My plan worked primarily because of the timidity of the opposing team. Nevertheless the instructor chewed me out for forgetting the foremost principle of war, namely 'objective' because I took too much of a risk in leaving Vicksburg open while going off essentially on a wild goose chase. Maybe you could do something similar using Grigsby's World at War -- divide the class into 5 teams, each of them taking one of the 5 major powers, and have them write down their orders on a piece of paper which you would enter into the computer using your best judgement. I have only looked at the demo of GGWAW so I don't really know how well that would work. Those are some great ideas! Thank You. I'll be hitting WWII with my 8th grade sections next semester. I just added the whole Capra series to my Netflix queue, it should come in handy.

Lt. Calley -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (12/20/2005 6:30:35 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: rhondabrwn I'll be hitting WWII with my 8th grade sections next semester. I just added the whole Capra series to my Netflix queue, it should come in handy. I found a website that has some of those "Why We Fight" Capra films available, including some that might not be available from Netflix: http://www.archive.org/details/cinemocracy

rhondabrwn -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (12/20/2005 10:09:02 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Lt. Calley quote: ORIGINAL: rhondabrwn I'll be hitting WWII with my 8th grade sections next semester. I just added the whole Capra series to my Netflix queue, it should come in handy. I found a website that has some of those "Why We Fight" Capra films available, including some that might not be available from Netflix: http://www.archive.org/details/cinemocracy What a powerhouse of a resource! I'm downloading movies even as I type this! Many, many Thanks!

Hertston -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (12/20/2005 11:19:28 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: rhondabrwn What a powerhouse of a resource! Agreed. [:)] I got one of them on video as a magazine freebie some time ago, but it will be fun to sit down tonight and watch the rest.

rhondabrwn -> Merry Christmas from the Navajo Nation (12/25/2005 6:12:45 AM)
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and happy and successful New Year from the Navajo Nation.

rhondabrwn -> Tragic News (12/31/2005 6:11:50 AM)
I received a call this afternoon that one of my students who had been in an auto wreck about four weeks ago died this morning. He had been in intensive care and undergoing many surgeries in an attempt to put him back together again and we though he had turned the corner. He continued to run high fevers and complained about chest pains that they couldn't pin down. Either something was busted up inside that they hadn't discovered or he caught some hospital infection. It's a sad day for our school. I fear that Geoffrey won't be the last student of mine who will die in some stupid drug or alcohol related accident. The problem is epidemic out here and I fear for the bright young children who will continue to fall victim to substance abuse. Too many of their role models (parents, older siblings) are already trapped in a losing scenario of drugs, alcohol, and poverty. So much to do out here [:(] RIP Geoffrey Descharme 1990 - 2005[sm=sad-1361.gif] Here's to a better future for his four little sisters that he leaves behind. Rhondalynn

jwarrenw13 -> RE: Tragic News (12/31/2005 7:11:23 AM)
About three weeks ago a girl at my high school, a cheerleader, a senior, died in a one-car accident. She lost control on a road on a Sunday afternoon, hit a culvert, wearing her seatbelt, died at the scene. Very sad. No drugs. No alcohol. She just seemed to take a curve too fast and overcorrected. It seems so very sad any time a young person dies. And it can happen any time.

rhondabrwn -> RE: Tragic News (12/31/2005 7:36:07 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JW About three weeks ago a girl at my high school, a cheerleader, a senior, died in a one-car accident. She lost control on a road on a Sunday afternoon, hit a culvert, wearing her seatbelt, died at the scene. Very sad. No drugs. No alcohol. She just seemed to take a curve too fast and overcorrected. It seems so very sad any time a young person dies. And it can happen any time. Yea... how true. I was just bugging my sons to be extra cautious on their snowboarding trip that they are taking to Aspen, CO next week. I'm just on edge and worrying about them driving out there... and "pushing it" to get more time on the slopes. Just being a mom, I guess.

rhondabrwn -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (2/4/2006 6:28:35 AM)
Actually, I just thought I'd provide a brief update to keep this thread visible. I'm posting new pictures in the "Part II" thread. The big news at the school is that our basketball team (6th, 7th, and 8th grade) are the Navajo Nation champions and will be going to the Arizona State Championships next weekend! Most of these guys are my students (and the rowdiest kids that I have to deal with [:D])but a great bunch of kids. This shot was taken at last night's homecoming game in which they had the visitors 30 to 8 within the first 5 minutes of the game. They then put in the reserves and coasted to a 44 to 21 victory. The student in the front row, left side, has tunnel vision and is steadily going blind. He not only plays all sports, but plays them well. He had 7 points in last night's game. It just breaks my heart to know that in a few years he will be totally blind and there is nothing anyone can do to stop the retinal deterioration. His condition is kept a secret because he doesn't want anyone to know his handicap. What a great little guy. Absolutely no peripheral vision and he is playing basketball... amazing! [image]local://upfiles/14190/FCD6135DD6A34E8EA64AEE66B2CA62E3.jpg[/image]

rhondabrwn -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (3/24/2006 8:12:59 PM)
Nothing new here, just thought I'd post and bring this thread up to the front page again. It was getting pretty well buried and I think the pictures and commentary on the Navajo Indian reservation may be of interest to all of our newbies who have joined after the Talonsoft acquisition. Enjoy.

rhondabrwn -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (3/24/2006 8:27:37 PM)
Ah heck... I owe you some updated pictures! These are of Spider Rock (one of the more famous landmarks in the Canyon de Chelly). [image]local://upfiles/14190/2BC2CDEF881F449FB2BF155BEBB6FF29.jpg[/image]

rhondabrwn -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (3/24/2006 8:33:06 PM)
We finally got a decent snowstorm last week! It all melted within 3 days, but our lakes are filled (which is good). [image]local://upfiles/14190/F248ABBC21194A15A60EF2A5C33E23D1.jpg[/image] [image]local://upfiles/14190/85805C2B30D240328627FDC68B8BCD25.jpg[/image] My Jeep really earned it's keep. It handled the 10 inches of snow without a problem, even when my friend and I went off-road and drove around Tsaile Lake (actually, it was accidental - we couldn't tell where the road was anymore [:D]). Unfortunately the batteries ran out on my camera before we really got to the good views so I missed the opportunity to capture the frozen lake. [:(] The first shot (above) was the last one I got out of the camera that day. BTW... that six sided tower in the background is the headquarters of Dine College which is located here in Tsaile. The 8 story golden tower in a traditional "hogan" shape is widely considered to be a terrible eyesore. You can see it from miles away. The Navajo Tribal Council passed a law outlawing any buildings over two stories on the rez after this embarrassment. Historically, the first "skyscraper" in America was only 9 stories so we're close to having a "skyscraper" on the rez. [:D]

rhondabrwn -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (3/24/2006 8:44:55 PM)
Some hiking photos from Spider Rock Overlook. [image]local://upfiles/14190/026367E4BC7F4CBFB5FB66C35A58AFEB.jpg[/image] [image]local://upfiles/14190/330B33B2FA7144B8864E01DB1463AC10.jpg[/image]

rhondabrwn -> RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) (3/24/2006 8:52:51 PM)
Spider Rock Canyon again... I like to leave the tourist trails to just clamber along the rim. I took these shots while showing a friend from Indiana the sites. We lucked out and had a rare 70 degree early spring day (both got sunburned on this jaunt). Winter returned the next day. [image]local://upfiles/14190/EC5D9B9C9F1E42178ADDA2DE6D8325AC.jpg[/image] [image]local://upfiles/14190/369D9A416650454BB6A182D6D9D24F3E.jpg[/image]

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