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Ideas
& Essays
'THREE
CUPS OF TEA' and a Man with a Mission
(12/3/08) Alan Shapiro
appreciates the book about Greg Mortenson, the man who builds schools and bridges
of understanding with people in the mountains of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Essay:
HISTORY: THE DISENCHANTING INSTRUMENT OF RECALL
(
4/30/08) Alan Shapiro asks: Are we, as teachers and citizens, willing
to examine the disturbing actions of our government since 9/11? And what are the
consequences of not examining them? EARTH
DAY 2008: An Essay on HISTORY & THE ENVIRONMENT (
4/30/08) An Earth Day presentation to students prompts educator
Alan Singer to reflect on some vital questions that Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient
Truth left out. FREIRE,
AYERS & AN ECONOMICS LESSON FOR FIFTH-GRADERS
The theories of Freire and Ayers--and the Massachusetts
curriculum framework--guide Emma Rose Roderick in creating a unit plan for fifth-graders
on work (Freire, Ayers
& an Economics Lesson for Fifth Graders). NURTURING
THE PEACEMAKERS IN OUR STUDENTS: A Guide to Writing & Speaking Out About Issues
of Peace and War Alan
Shapiro reviews the new book by teacher Chris Weber THOUGHT-PROVOKING
SUMMER READING
Our ever-inquiring
curriculum writer Alan Shapiro suggests books, articles & a blog that are
sure to sharpen your thinking. Book
Review: OVERTHROW Alan
Shapiro reviews Stephen Kinzer's compelling account of "America's Century of Regime
Change from Hawaii to Iraq." Book
Reviews:
BURY THE CHAINS: Prophets & Rebels in the the Fight to Free an Empire's
Slaves and KING LEOPOLD'S GHOST
Alan Shapiro
reviews two books by Adam Hochschild about injustices and those who fought to
end them. Essay:
WARMTH & LIGHT DISPEL THE CLASSROOM CHILL In
a talk at the recent Educators to Stop the War Conference, ESR
Metro executive director Tom Roderick reflects on the creativity of teachers during
these trying times. Essay:
POST-ELECTION THOUGHTS ESR Metro executive
director Tom Roderick considers Bush, Kerry, the nature of moral values, and where
we go from here. Teachers'
Forum: HOW DO YOU TEACH ABOUT THE ELECTION?
Classroom teachers share their
ideas about how to address the 2004 presidential election in the classroom. Essay:
SEND IN THE COPS?
School
violence is once again making headlines in New York City and politicians are scrambling
to do something about it. Unfortunately,
so far they aren't addressing the core issue: how to foster good relationships
in our schools. The
Essential Skill of Crap Detecting.
Students can practice the art using today's news. Teaching
Politics & the Politics of Teaching.
There's no escaping
it: Teaching is a political act.
The
Plagiarism Perplex
The world wide web is the greatest resource
for student plagiarism since the creation of the encyclopedia, writes Alan Shapiro.
What's a teacher to do? How
to Stop Cheaters
Students enter the test room with time-honored
ways of playing the cheat. But what if they could tattoo their bodies with numbers
if it pleased them and examine them anytime they wished? Film
Review: To
Be and To Have
The widely hailed
documentary about a French teacher and his elementary class is a paean to conformity,
says reviewer Maxine Phillips. | 
