Class #2 - 1/15/08

What is a peacemaker?

This question formed the basis of the first half of our in-class dialogue today. After reviewing the work you need to do to earn Social Studies and English credit, I posed this question. Your initial responses, I think, were what you think you were "supposed" to say, people like Gandhi, King, etc. When I pushed your definitions to include people you know, the conversation really took off. Gracie talked about her dad's morning meditation practice, Gabi mentioned her mom's work at Gabi's former school, and Eric talked about his dad and the work he does around issues of fairness and diversity.

We looked at the study guide questions specific to Henry David Thoreau, focusing most of our attention on what it means to live deliberately. I encourage you to consider this idea in more detail as you do your reading this week.

Before I sign off, let me tell you a little bit about a movie starring Robin Williams that came out in the late 80's called "The Dead Poet's Society." He plays an English teacher with an unconventional teaching style in a very traditional all-boys boarding school. He uses this quote from Thoreau to inspire his students:

I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately,
I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life,
To put to rout all that was not life and not when I had come to die
Discover that I had not lived.

I encourage you to see the movie during this term. As a teaser, enjoy this YouTube link.

Now it is time for you to think.

Summary of Homework Due on 1/22:
- Read the 4 chapters in Part One of the book and complete the journal entry. This work must be done prior to the start of class.