August 27th and 28th, 2015

Students,

Today we began our pre-columbian societies research assignment. This will be completed in class! If you were absent today we will assign you to a group tomorrow and you will be responsible for helping your group complete their research, as well as participating in the presenting out of information.

REMINDERS:

Empathy Essay is due on August 28th...you've had plenty of time.

EMPATHY ESSAY RUBRIC

Comments on the blog are "due" August 28th by 4:00 PM, we took class time to do this, but if you are still struggling come see me during tutorials.

AUGUST 24th, BLOG POST FOR COMMENTS

Cornell Notes over expectations are also needed if you were absent come talk to me for a copy of the PPT or click the link below.

PPT LINK FOR EXPECTATIONS

August 26th, 2015

Students,

Today we had one final day of procedural upkeep. We looked at what I expect from you in my classroom. If you were absent we did take Cornell Notes over the PPT

 Power point it is attached here

Please make sure you discuss with me when you return tomorrow what is expected on my Cornell Notes.

It is also important to note that several of you have still not completed blog orientation by commenting on the blog. I should have a list tomorrow of people who have yet to post.

And again we you have your first assignment. Make sure you watch the video and respond to the prompt in 1-2 pages.

Video Link

Based on the source material, create a critique addressing the following issues: What is empathy? Do you agree with the position presented in the video? How can ideas of empathy be applied to history to better our understanding of the topic?

Assignment should be 1-2 pages typed or written. properly titled and meet the following criteria.

If typed:
12 point Calibri font
double spaced
1" margins

If Written:
Use college ruled paper
no double space
no front and back

August 25th, 2015

Students,

Today we took a whole day to familiarize you with this website. Please make sure you comment on the post from August 24th, 2015  so that I can give you credit for your official website training! If you are struggling to get this accomplished please come talk to me during tutorials so we can get you straightened out!

Reminders:

Empathy Essay is due Friday the 28th. I will link the info (again) below

Youtube link

Based on the source material, create a critique addressing the following issues: What is empathy? Do you agree with the position presented in the video? How can ideas of empathy be applied to history to better our understanding of the topic?

Assignment should be 1-2 pages typed or written. properly titled and meet the following criteria.

If typed:
12 point calibri
double spaced
1" margins

If Written:
Use college ruled paper
no double space
no front and back

August 24th, 2015

Students,

Today we talked about campus wide expectations...

BE - Respectful
BE - Responsible
BE - Safe

these expectations were covered in different iterations all day; from before school to after school expectations all the way to what Seguin H.S. expects of your behavior in the restroom. Just a reminder we will be having a Website orientation tomorrow.

In addition we you have your first assignment. What follows is a scientific examination of how empathy has played a role in how we as a society has evolved to interact with each other. It really does frame the way in which I approach my history classes very well and will help you understand a little bit more of what to expect from the course. Please watch the video and address the prompt that follows.

Youtube link

Based on the source material, create a critique addressing the following issues: What is empathy? Do you agree with the position presented in the video? How can ideas of empathy be applied to history to better our understanding of the topic?

Assignment should be 1-2 pages typed or written. properly titled and meet the following criteria.

If typed:
12 point calibri
double spaced
1" margins

If Written:
Use college ruled paper
no double space
no front and back


This assignment will be due on Friday at the beginning of class.

August 20th, 2015

Parents and Students,

Tonight was meet the teacher and I was thrilled that I got to meet all of you!

If you were not able to attend but still wish to receive updates from me outside of this website please complete the google form below to securely send me all of your contact information.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1zsyJPRORpX_0NxWTMzXLOo2EyfwZgRfsjCdCe0r5Fzk/viewform?usp=send_form

I look forward to having you all back in class on the 24th!

Sincerely,

Thomas Ryan Womack M.Ed.

August 10th, 2015

Students,

As we approach the upcoming school year I would like to go ahead and make the Remind 101 information available to those of you that know where you belong.

IF YOU ARE UNSURE OF YOUR CLASS PERIOD JUST WAIT!

To register send the code corresponding to your class period using one of the following methods:
A) text your code to (830)386-4375
B) Email   yourclassescode@mail.remind.com (remove the '@' from the front of the code)
C) input the code in the Remind101 app on your smart phones.

2nd: @107211
3rd: @43c27
5th: @e45ae1
6th: @ff7cf
7th: @4c9b6
8th: @0c28b

I will be making note of those that register early! Feel free to share  your thoughts in the comments section below.

Looking forward to seeing all of the new and familiar faces!

Sincerely,

Thomas Ryan Womack M.Ed.

July 15th, 2015

Former and future students,

One of my students asked me my opinion on the confederate flag issue that is currently unfolding in South Carolina. Considering all of the press currently being given to the racial tensions in the country, the debate surrounding a symbol that represents the entirety of a unique culture (including the idea that slavery is a good thing) is not surprising. This is a complex argument revolving around complex issues that have been around since before the drafting of the constitution, but I will do my best to make my argument in a way that will not be offensive to any individuals that may be reading, but be warned before continuing this will contain information / viewpoints that you may not agree with.

Symbols are powerful. they convey an entire system of beliefs in an instant. They are essentially a shortcut we can utilize to categorize and sort those individuals that we can then choose to interact with or not. Consider symbols a graphic medium for stereotyping. This particular symbol, the confederate flag, has developed different meanings to different groups of people. Many individuals living in the South believe the Confederate flag represents a unique cultural heritage; However, due to current and past racial tension in the United States, the Confederacies stance on slavery, and our belief that a representational government reflects the entirety of a population, the confederate flag should not be displayed by any federal or state governmental organizations. (That thesis is for you AP students)

Ferguson, St. Louis, Charleston all of these cities have been spotlighted for violence against the black community during the past year. That violence, however, is not a new occurrence in our country; Micheal Brown will join names like Emmett Till in our countries fight against an imagined idea of racial superiority. It is however these acts of violence that has catapulted the race debate back into the spotlight for what seems like the first time since the civil rights movement of the 1960's. Across the country state governments are reacting and digging deeper at racial tensions in this country often uncovering systemic abuses of minorities by government agencies(the police in St. Louis). As well as throwing the spotlight on the economic disparity between the wealthy and the poor which has created a system that has severely hindered the ability of the poor (largely minority) to achieve the American dream with any reliability.  The confederate flag is a symbol that represents an attitude that, on some level, is okay with this type of system. And it is these acts of violence that have reinvigorated attempts to remove that symbol from state grounds. 

As we discussed during the school year the civil war was fought for various reasons with states rights being at the forefront of the debate, but as I hope you remember, it was a states right to own people, sell people, and expand the influence of slavery. So it is logical that some portion of this country associates the Confederate flag with the institution of slavery. Returning to my graphical stereotyping connection mentioned earlier, if I see a state government touting the Stars and Bars my instant thought will be that they, the state, support discrimination against African-Americans and other minorities. So the same institution that I pay taxes too,  that provides for the education of my child, and empowers those that enforce the law is on some level expressing an idea that offends or alienates large chunks of its constituency. On the other hand if I see a car with the Confederate flag on the window it helps define who they are as an individual and provides me with some foresight into what to expect from them. The state however,is not an individual but a chorus, and should not endorse this message real or perceived, because of the representative government we put in place with our constitution. 

We are a representational democracy. Whatever the government supports its is viewed as a belief shared by all. therefore it is very difficult in situations like this to decide what types of beliefs the state can or cannot endorse. These debates are not unique either. In a court case similar to the current debate in South Carolina, Walker v. Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, INC. (http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-144_758b.pdf)The Supreme court ruled that a specialty licence plate featuring the confederate flag not only reflects the views and beliefs of the individual that purchased it but the government that issued it. So we as a government chose not to issue confederate flag license plates for fear of being associated with confederate values which include slavery.The argument can be extended to court cases against state institutions with the ten commandments or other religious texts posted in some form on public land. While the controversy is harsh and bitter, often times it ends with these monuments being torn down or moved despite the fact that we are a largely christian country. Because these symbols tend to polarize the population and create a minority it is impossible for the state to effectively regulate their use without an all or nothing approach, and we have chosen the nothing.

In closing; if you choose to go out and purchase the Stars and Bars and fly it in front of your home or from your car window. Be my guest, it is your right as an American to embrace your heritage and derive cultural value from that symbol of the South. However, we cannot endorse the flying of confederate flags, especially in a place of prominence, by the institution that is meant to represent everyone that is participating in government. This does however cause us to walk a very scary line between keeping beliefs separate and a revisionist history that erases the men and women of the confederacy from our history books. But that is a debate for another time.

TLDR: The State Should not endorse the Confederate flag. That said. as a private citizen, do what you want its a free country.