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The last Hurrah!  Washington D.C.

 

Danna Beck:  The last research trip for PACETAH was a great success from my point of view.  The 21 history educators who attended were treated to a plethora of experiences across the DC metroplex.  The comparison of Mount Vernon, Gunston Hall, and Lincoln's summer "cottage" (a mere 34 rooms) provided an overview of the good life over 2 centuries.  What could be better than having the National Archives to oneself, or of sitting in a reading room in the Library of Congress, or of sitting in the highest Court in the US?  Thanks to all of you great travelers who made my job so easy!

 

Cindy Wihebrink:  I am always in awe of the amount of information we learn when we travel during the summer for PACETAH.  Mount Vernon took my breath away and to think that I actually touched the same stair rails that George Washington had touched was wonderful!  To see Dorothy and Sara able to place a wreath near the tombs of George and Martha Washington and for them to officially sign their names in the log book where Presidents, Supreme Court justices and other dignitaries had signed was a highlight also!  I never knew Abraham Lincoln had a summer home and now I have acquired more knowledge to share with my students!  Again we touched the same stair rails that Abraham Lincoln had touched.  The Library of Congress absolutely took my breath away also! Such architecture... such beauty....so much to see.  The remains of Thomas Jefferson's library was also on display.  He categorized his books either by Memory, Reasoning or Imagination.  Under memory was history books, under Reasoning was the philosphy books and under Imagination was the Fine Arts.  Being able to gaze upon the books Thomas Jefferson read was inspriring.  I even got a Library of Congress reader card!  Wow!  In my research I discovered a few things about my paternal great-great-grandfather that I never knew and which of course will now cause me to pursue more information on him!  I must say that Mount Vernon was my absolute favorite and then the summer home of Abraham Lincoln and the stories our tour guide told us of his stay there and finally the Library of Congress in all its grandeur.  I am sorry this will be our last summer research trip for PACETAH because I have made some wonderful friends and gained some incredible knowledge through this journey!

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Rebecca Yelverton: 

The trip to Washington DC was very informative.  The escapade to Mount Vernon provided me with very useful self-filmed footage.  I have images of the manision, the Potomac, the stables, the slave quarters and the heated passageways underneath the floor of Washington’s greenhouse. I know this will enhance my 8^th grade lectures.

 

Gunston Hall provided additional footage of colonial life.  I filmed the well, the “refrigerator” room, the washroom and a corn-grinding demonstration.

 

The Supreme Court was amazing. I will be so excited to show my seniors the film of this building. Its grandeur is amazing.  I will be able to give them information on the many symbolic images within the courtroom and I have pictures of portraits of several of the Justices with a brief biography.

 

The National Archives gave each teacher a myriad of primary source documents along with valuable information on how to present the information to our students.

 

There were numerous other learning experiences but I will not hog the blog!  I do want to thank Danna for making these wonderful experiences a reality.  I am forever grateful and you have given us the great gift of knowledge which we shall share with our students for many years.

 

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Linda Comer: The trip to Washington DC was a wonderful learning experience.

The trip to Mount Vernon and to Lincoln's summer home provided new information about each President. After visiting, Mount Vernon, I understand why it was such a sacrifice for Washington to leave his home. The Library of Congress and the Supreme Court are "must-sees." The materials available through the Archives will enable me to be a better teacher. Seeing the original founding documents at the National Archives, the Star Spangled Banner, and Arlington Cemetery were inspirational! I particularly enjoyed seeing Jefferon's library and his organizational system. I came away from the trip with a new appreciation for our country and for our history. Thanks to Danna, Dr. Shaffer, Dr. Calvi, and all the other teachers for making this such a special event.

 

Jason Cockrell:  What an amazing journey over the last 6 years.  This trip to D.C. was my 3rd trip and everytime I go I see something different and amazing.  Mount Vernon provided great insight into George Washington, the farmer.  We spend a lot of time talking about General Washington and President Washington and lose the simple life he yearned for in farming.  Lincoln's summer home was an eye opening experience.  I never knew about the summer cottage and the Veteran's hospital located on the property.  I  really enjoyed getting to see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights, the foundations of our country.  Getting to see the Star Spangled Banner truly completed the grant for me.  I started my grant journey in Baltimore getting the opportunity to see Francis Scott Key's draft of the poem that would become our National Anthem and finishing the grant seeing the Flag that inspired him.

 

I want to thank Danna for all her hard work over the years in putting these grants together.  Without Danna and the grant, I may not have ever seen the places I teach about year after year!!! 

 

I also want to thank the outstanding history department at West Texas A & M University including Dr. Shaffer, Dr. Calvi, Dr. Rhodes, Dr. Vissini, Dr. Kuhlman, Dr. Rouche and so many more that truly made this grant great.  Thank you guys for sharing your time and knowledge and being the mentors you truly are.

 

Wink Clark:  What another great educational trip!  The trip to Mount Vernon was a great learning experience.  George Washington was such a great leader for our country in its early stages.  It is interesting to learn what an innovative farmer he was:  example - switching from growing tobacco to mainly wheat as a cash crop.  He was willing to try different things to make his plantation a "going concern."  The museum on the grounds was very informative describing the stages of Washington's life.  People talk about his false teeth, which on on display, but probably didn't know how concerned he was about his dental health throughout his life. 

 

The National Archives was very meaningful to be able to see the actual Declaration of Independence and Constitution.  It is amazing that so many documents that concern the U.S. that are kept there.  The Archives are very supportive to teachers and students as a resource for all types of documents and educational activities.   Arlington National Cemetery is one of the most meaningful places an American could visit.  Not only are there are a lot of distinguished people buried there, but it was the home of Robert E. Lee.  I afforded myself the opportunity to visit the grave of a high school friend who is buried there after having been killed in Viet Nam.  

 

Lincoln's summer cottage was extremely interesting.  It is hard to imagine, in context of today's  highly security minded situation, that Lincoln rode to the White House by himself many times without fear.  It is easy to understand why the President wanted to get away from the White House as much as possible and that the cottage was a great retreat for Lincoln and his family. 

 

I have been to the Smithsonian American History Museum three times in my life.  Each time I wanted to see the "Star Spangled Banner."  It is amazing to see the range of inventions, the artifacts on display, and the importance to American life of things that have happened in our country.  The shooting at the Holocaust Museum took place while we were in the Smithsonian, but we walked as close as we could get to the Holocaust Museum.  We got to see eyewitnesses being interviewed by television crews.  Shortly after the shootings.

 

As we visited the Supreme Court, my thoughts went to all the decisions that had been made by that judicial body and in that building that have affected the daily lives of Americans.  We also got to see books from Thomas Jefferson's library on display at the Library of Congress.

 

Some of us got to have our pictures taken with Senator John Warner of Virginia as he got off the Metro where we were waiting to get on.  In addition, we got to see some great entertainers at the Challenge America Concert at the Kennedy Center.  Afterwards we go our picture taken with Darius Rucker, lead singer for Hootie and the Blowfish!

 

The years involved in Pacetah have helped me explain the Amrerican experience to my students as well as making me more enlightened regarding our country.  Danna has done a masterful job of arranging all the travel.  Dr Shaffer and those other West Texas A & M professors have been very educational in their presentation of the topics each summer.  We have made lifelong friends with whom we can network to improve our own teaching.  Thanks to all.

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Janet Fleming:  Danna, thank you for providing an opportunity to be able to go to Washington, D.C. for nearly a week without students.  This is an opportunity that I could hardly afford.  It is a travesty to have to take 35 students to receive a free trip.  Seriously, it was extremely rewarding to take students but much more enjoyable to be in D.C. without students. Our special treatments at Mount Vernon and the National Archives was very much appreciated.  I have personally waited in long lines to visit those places.  It was exciting to see the third floor at Mount Vernon since it is generally closed to the public.  It was awe inspiring to view the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution without a million 8th grade students.  Also, it was a new experience to visit Gunston Hall and Lincoln's Summer "cottage".  I will use the pictures and information I learned in class.  The overall highlight of my trip was the concert at Kennedy Center.  It felt good to be a part of Challenge America to benefit soldiers returning from war with injuries.  My knowledge has been broadened immensely by the trips in the American history grants.  Danna, thank you for the oppotunities to make me a better teacher.  Furthermore, I have enjoyed getting to know teachers from all over the region.  We seem to have a common bond of loving history that made the trips and classes a success.  I will cherish the memories.

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Rusty Phares - The Last Hurrah!  It's kinda sad that this wonderful experience known as PACETAH is over.  There are so many wonderful memories to call upon from the time I spent in the grant that I could probably write a book.  But I won't.  I do want to thank Danna for giving me the opportunity to be apart of this amazing journey.  I have had the opportunity to see and do things that I don't think I would have otherwise had the chance to do in my lifetime.  I also want to thank Dr. Wade Schaffer and the History and Political Science professors at WTAMU (GO BUFFS!!!) for their time and knowledge that they bestowed upon us all.  I can honestly say that this grant made me a teacher!  As for the band of merry men and women that were apart of this grant with me, you all were awesome.  There are stories for days.  Please stay in contact and don't hesitate to call if you need anything.  This grant has given me the ability to show my students that history is alive and well and that actually being at the places we talk about in class can make a difference.  They may not have been there, but I can put a picture in their head or a story in their hands that can virtually transport them to another place, time and understanding of what we are talking about in class.  I get very excited when I talk about being in Chicago at the Pullman Site, in Washington D.C. at the White House, and all the numerous other stories I have from the places we have been and the things we have seen.  That enthusiasm rubs off and they get excited about history too...well, most of them do!  All I can say is Thank You for the opportunities.

Now, this trip to Washington D.C. was only my second trip there, but I felt like a kid at the amusement park.  I finally got to see Old Glory...man is she beautiful!  I understand what drove Francis Scott Key to write such an awesome song.  To be inches away from the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, The Constitution...goose bumps still erupt every time I talk or think about it.  And I never knew about Lincoln's summer home.  That was an amazing site.  To be in the room were he drafted the Emancipation Proclamation was awe inspiring.   Visiting Mt. Vernon was just awesome.  How great would it be to have that view Washington had when he lived there.  Needless to say, grant or not, I will go back.  There is so much more I want to see.  I do want to say a quick prayer for the security guard that was shot at the Holocaust Museum.  He was one of the guards that was checking bags the day we went to the museum.  Susan and I had a chance to go through that museum.  It is a sobering reminder of what so many Jews and "undesirable" people had to deal with during WWII.  I will never forget that place.  The image of the shoes will always stick with me.

I know I could keep going on forever, but I will call it good here.  So many stories and so little space to type.  Thank you all for the time and we spent together on these grants and I look forward to seeing you all again real soon.  Take care!!

 

 

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Larry Franks:  I went to Washington D.C. for the first time. It was quite an experience. Guess I was lucky to make the trip thats for sure. All the info was valuable to my students and the experience can be used in the classroom. I really did not have any idea what to expect. The first day we saw two houses, George and George.  (Washington and Mason)  They were in mint condidtion.  I think that I would prefer George Masons place.  The burial places stuck in my mind. 

 

Most of the trip we spent time seeing important places and documents.  We spent a lot of time working, and also walking.  I never knew there was so much marble in D.C.  It seems to me that everything is all wrapped up in a close area, except for Lincoln's summer home.   I found this out on a bus tour I took.  I don't think I have seen so many primary sources in my life.  The supreme court also stuck in my mind.  I have been watching TV and seeing some important decisions come down and realizing that I sat in the court.

 

My trip covered the entire time period of US History.  So much to see, so little time.  Have to admitt I am getting pretty good with the subway systems.  I know I can get around town now.  It was nice to have Wade and Jim along also.  Sure did hit them with a lot of questions.  Finally I want to thank Dana for all that she has done for us.  I probably would have never went east of the Mississippi with out her.

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Check out the news about Chicago! A Happening Place!

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Panhandle Teachers toook Houston by storm at the National Council for Social Studies Conference in November!

 

 

 

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Ten Panhandle area educators walked the Freedom Trail in Boston MA at the 2009 National Council for History Educators (NCHE) annual conference!

 

 

 

Danna Beck:  I was so excited to be able to take 9 area educators to the NCHE in Boston last week!  The conference was fantastic, and the teachers were delightful!  We walked the Freedom Trail several times, and were thrilled to visit Salem, Quincy,  the JFK Presidential Library and Museum, Lexington, and Concord, as well as  other historic sites.  The conference, one of the best in the nation, certainly lived up to its reputation.  It was a rare privilege to hear renowned historian and author, David McCullough.  Dr. Wade Shaffer of WTAMU brought the  revolutionary period to life as he shared anecdotes while we strolled across the historic city.  Thanks to all of you for making my final national conference so memorable!

 

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