For those of you who never got the chance to be a teacher and instead took the route of the more boring yet higher paying job, or for those of you who always wanted to tell a teacher what and/or how to teach, here's your chance.
I teach American history at the middle school level in Hawai`i. We cover from just after the Revolution to Reconstruction with an emphasis on the Constitution. Do you remember this class? You probably didn't like it too much when you were compelled to be in it, yet here you are spending your free time engaged in political discussion and action. Hopefully something you learned in school stuck with you and you were inspired by your teacher to play your part in the civic life of our country.
Just let me belive that was so, okay?
The previous two elections sent me into deep mourning. We discussed the mechanics of elections and tried to understand the electoral college but Chimpy Bushleague and the Black Hat Squad didn't inspire much in me. I know that I didn't do justice to the process and probably let my kids down. However, Obama is the first candidate a bunch of young adults can relate to in any way, shape, or form. This is probably THE MOST EXCITING ELECTION EVER IN MY LIFETIME and it is certainly the first one the kids were interested in, probably because he is young, non-white, and from here--just like my students! Hey!
My problem is, every time I tap into the intertubes and check out hot Obama pics on the DailyKos, I get all happy and mushy-brained. I want to incorporate the election excitement into our lessons, but (did I mention I'm REALLY excited?) I can't think straight. I have to refrain from outright Obama worship and, even though McCain makes me throw up a little in my mouth when I look at him, I have to be fair and impartial. So, if YOU were given access to 150 12-14 year-olds, what would YOU do to help them understand the whole election process and be prepared to fully understand the EXCITING history they will be witness to? What would YOU teach if YOU were running a sort of fantasy elections camp? What do YOU wish your teachers had done for YOU? What aspect of the election system confused YOU? And, if you played a game of DNA roulette and reproduced, what questions are YOUR kids asking?
Of course, I have my fallback lesson plan done already, but I love creative input from others and I couldn't help but wonder what a few thousand Kossacks would do with my kids if given the chance. Conditions: You can't tell them "It's about freaking time we get someone with a freaking brain to run the country!" or "Because he is an Asshat, that's why."
Okay Kossacks, bring it!