Comments on: The Civil War in the classroom http://civilwarhistory.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/the-civil-war-in-the-classroom/ The Blog Between the States. Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:31:34 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Ken Roberts http://civilwarhistory.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/the-civil-war-in-the-classroom/#comment-530 Ken Roberts Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:46:19 +0000 http://civilwarhistory.wordpress.com/?p=200#comment-530 I certainly think or was taught in school that the war was fought over states rights and no one can deny that slavery was an element in the war it was not introduced into the war until two years later to boost the support for the northern side of the war. People have set the Confederate flag up as a symbol of slave trading or hatred of blacks , it is a shame that the flag has to be the brunt of this because it is a flag of half of the United States. The southern people are proud to be from the south and they should be proud of their heritage ,they also have a right to have a flag or the freedom to fly the Confederate flag any time they want . The revisionist have not only removed some of the aspects of the Civil war but certainly a large portion of American history . quite a few of the statements made by our founding Fathers have been removed from the history books . The bloodiest war every fought and it was originally fought over conflicts between the states and federal government . I applaud this site for researching and trying to display all the truth here . I in no way condone any man to be a slave or be mistreated . We have come a very long way to all men be equal and in the eyes not only of God but all men . I certainly think or was taught in school that the war was fought over states rights and no one can deny that slavery was an element in the war it was not introduced into the war until two years later to boost the support for the northern side of the war. People have set the Confederate flag up as a symbol of slave trading or hatred of blacks , it is a shame that the flag has to be the brunt of this because it is a flag of half of the United States. The southern people are proud to be from the south and they should be proud of their heritage ,they also have a right to have a flag or the freedom to fly the Confederate flag any time they want . The revisionist have not only removed some of the aspects of the Civil war but certainly a large portion of American history . quite a few of the statements made by our founding Fathers have been removed from the history books . The bloodiest war every fought and it was originally fought over conflicts between the states and federal government . I applaud this site for researching and trying to display all the truth here . I in no way condone any man to be a slave or be mistreated . We have come a very long way to all men be equal and in the eyes not only of God but all men .

]]> By: L Patrick Arender http://civilwarhistory.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/the-civil-war-in-the-classroom/#comment-507 L Patrick Arender Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:46:01 +0000 http://civilwarhistory.wordpress.com/?p=200#comment-507 Based on my personal experiences, reenactors in the classroom is a very beneficial way to teach a subject. For about 12 years from 1978 until 1991, I dressed in combat utilities (BDU's - Battle Dress Uniform) with combat gear and gave speeches based on my experiences in Vietnam. I spoke to classes 6 through 9 and was always received by students who were interested, inquisitive, and respectful. A severe back injury in 1991 while on Active Duty (Stateside) with the U.S. Coast Guard during Operation Desert Storm brought my "classroom teaching" to an abrupt end. Today, I spend a little of my time on the internet researching the War Between The States from the perspective of a Confederate soldier who was conscripted (drafted) into service, who never owned a slave, and who only fights because he sees the Union Forces as invaders. Based on my personal experiences, reenactors in the classroom is a very beneficial way to teach a subject. For about 12 years from 1978 until 1991, I dressed in combat utilities (BDU’s – Battle Dress Uniform) with combat gear and gave speeches based on my experiences in Vietnam. I spoke to classes 6 through 9 and was always received by students who were interested, inquisitive, and respectful. A severe back injury in 1991 while on Active Duty (Stateside) with the U.S. Coast Guard during Operation Desert Storm brought my “classroom teaching” to an abrupt end. Today, I spend a little of my time on the internet researching the War Between The States from the perspective of a Confederate soldier who was conscripted (drafted) into service, who never owned a slave, and who only fights because he sees the Union Forces as invaders.

]]> By: Philip L http://civilwarhistory.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/the-civil-war-in-the-classroom/#comment-502 Philip L Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:13:14 +0000 http://civilwarhistory.wordpress.com/?p=200#comment-502 In so far as reenactors in the classroom I am generally opposed to it. First of all I was once a World War 2 reenactor and am now currently a civil war Union reenactor. In both cases I have had experience with public presentations. Here is where I find them not particularly valuable. First reenactors have verying degrees of historical knowledge. Some would give Professor McPherson a run for their money others are sorely lacking in knowledge and have said things to the public that are just plain not factually true. Coming from a reenactor who "must" know, anything said is taken as fact by the public. Next the reenactor provides only a glimpse at the small picture of the war showing the public the "neato" side of the war with "cool" guns, swords and so on. Another problem is the average reenactor is older and better fed than the average Civil War soldier. All of these things combine to provide a jaundiced view of the war and are not particularly useful in an educational setting. I am not against public performances but reenactments are for special occasions but in a classroom not useful. Just my opinion. In so far as reenactors in the classroom I am generally opposed to it. First of all I was once a World War 2 reenactor and am now currently a civil war Union reenactor. In both cases I have had experience with public presentations. Here is where I find them not particularly valuable.
First reenactors have verying degrees of historical knowledge. Some would give Professor McPherson a run for their money others are sorely lacking in knowledge and have said things to the public that are just plain not factually true. Coming from a reenactor who “must” know, anything said is taken as fact by the public.
Next the reenactor provides only a glimpse at the small picture of the war showing the public the “neato” side of the war with “cool” guns, swords and so on. Another problem is the average reenactor is older and better fed than the average Civil War soldier. All of these things combine to provide a jaundiced view of the war and are not particularly useful in an educational setting.
I am not against public performances but reenactments are for special occasions but in a classroom not useful. Just my opinion.

]]> By: Billy Whyte http://civilwarhistory.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/the-civil-war-in-the-classroom/#comment-475 Billy Whyte Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:30:25 +0000 http://civilwarhistory.wordpress.com/?p=200#comment-475 Dan I think reenactors in the classroom would be a great idea. It would provide some entertainment, break up the monotony of lecture, and, hopefully, open up a good dialogue with the students. It might be difficult to find someone willing to do this. I wouldn't even know where to start looking in my area. As for the gaming, I'm not sold on this being beneficial to the whole class. You stated the obvious problems of computer networking, software, etc. But how many students can actually play at one time? I could see it being useful as a presentation. In other words the professor would run the game for the class to watch pointing out the importance of terrain and tactics. I agree with you that all too often the military aspects of the war are neglected. We are living in a time where social history has taken on a greater importance than military history. I just finshed teaching a college level Civil War class over the summer. It was only six weeks and difficult to cover everything. I spent the first week on the causes of the war and Fort Sumter. After this, I lectured chronologically through the military campaigns. In between these lectures, I would cover topics such as: Civil War Medicine, homefront, Civil War Navy, international front, women and prisons. I tried to give the students an over all picture of the conflict but, again, not everything can be covered. Dan
I think reenactors in the classroom would be a great idea. It would provide some entertainment, break up the monotony of lecture, and, hopefully, open up a good dialogue with the students. It might be difficult to find someone willing to do this. I wouldn’t even know where to start looking in my area.

As for the gaming, I’m not sold on this being beneficial to the whole class. You stated the obvious problems of computer networking, software, etc. But how many students can actually play at one time? I could see it being useful as a presentation. In other words the professor would run the game for the class to watch pointing out the importance of terrain and tactics.

I agree with you that all too often the military aspects of the war are neglected. We are living in a time where social history has taken on a greater importance than military history.

I just finshed teaching a college level Civil War class over the summer. It was only six weeks and difficult to cover everything. I spent the first week on the causes of the war and Fort Sumter. After this, I lectured chronologically through the military campaigns. In between these lectures, I would cover topics such as: Civil War Medicine, homefront, Civil War Navy, international front, women and prisons. I tried to give the students an over all picture of the conflict but, again, not everything can be covered.

]]> By: Daniel Sauerwein http://civilwarhistory.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/the-civil-war-in-the-classroom/#comment-473 Daniel Sauerwein Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:59:44 +0000 http://civilwarhistory.wordpress.com/?p=200#comment-473 Dave, That the war was fought over slavery is not so much revisionist, as it is a shift in focus. The right of a state to secede from the Union was largely based upon slavery. You were likely taught the argument of the war being fought to preserve the Union. Keep in mind that the war did shift towards one to end slavery, as slavery would not be able to continue in a post-war America. What I am trying to get at is that the focus on slavery is not something to be ignored, but, when studying the war, slavery should not have such a large place, especially where focus shifts away from the battles and soldiers. The home front and the evil of slavery is important to learn, but not at the cost of the actual fighting of the war. In some ways, I would argue that Civil War classes need to be structured in such a way as to allow one semester to focus on the background and non-military issues, with the other semester being entirely devoted to the military side of the period. Thanks for your comment. Daniel Dave,

That the war was fought over slavery is not so much revisionist, as it is a shift in focus. The right of a state to secede from the Union was largely based upon slavery. You were likely taught the argument of the war being fought to preserve the Union. Keep in mind that the war did shift towards one to end slavery, as slavery would not be able to continue in a post-war America. What I am trying to get at is that the focus on slavery is not something to be ignored, but, when studying the war, slavery should not have such a large place, especially where focus shifts away from the battles and soldiers. The home front and the evil of slavery is important to learn, but not at the cost of the actual fighting of the war. In some ways, I would argue that Civil War classes need to be structured in such a way as to allow one semester to focus on the background and non-military issues, with the other semester being entirely devoted to the military side of the period. Thanks for your comment.

Daniel

]]> By: Dave http://civilwarhistory.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/the-civil-war-in-the-classroom/#comment-472 Dave Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:02:14 +0000 http://civilwarhistory.wordpress.com/?p=200#comment-472 When I was a child, we were taught that the Civil War was fought over the question of whether or not states could secede from the Union. Now kids are taught that the Civil War was fought over slavery. It's sad that we engage in all this revisionism. When I was a child, we were taught that the Civil War was fought over the question of whether or not states could secede from the Union. Now kids are taught that the Civil War was fought over slavery. It’s sad that we engage in all this revisionism.

]]> By: The Civil War in the classroom http://civilwarhistory.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/the-civil-war-in-the-classroom/#comment-469 The Civil War in the classroom Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:53:18 +0000 http://civilwarhistory.wordpress.com/?p=200#comment-469 [...] If you're new To TOCWOC, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!Cross posted at Civil War History. [...] [...] If you’re new To TOCWOC, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!Cross posted at Civil War History. [...]

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