Well last summer was busy for me.
I embarked on a journey and while it was mainly a labor of love, I was still happy with the results. I was able to get great guest commentaries, comments from students and overall tried to model what I think a social science examination of material could and frankly should look like. While I led the charge, I know that I am not the purveyor of all knowledge, hopefully this project will continue to be more of a dialogue than a monologue. Hopefully we will continue to produce quality work and expand the skills of analysis, reflection and synthesis to the world outside of the classroom. Of course, this remains the goal...the reality is up to all of us and especially me as the role model of how to tackle some heavy topics. Last year we examined one of the most influential and important documents in American history, the Declaration of Independence. For my next venture, I had some thoughts about how to approach things in 2017. `1. This time I wanted to choose an incredibly written document that is not as well known. I mean everyone knows the Declaration of Independence and the context is almost canonized. I wanted to pick something that is not as mainstream but still accessible and relevant to our society. 2. I wanted something from more recent memory, if I stay in the 1700s forever then it hinders some of the modern day connections we can make. 3. I wanted to choose a document not written by a politician for variety sake and one that was not as legalistic and debated/bargained over like the Declaration of Independence. 4. I wanted something that would evoke emotions and discussions. So this year this website will be focused on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Letter from Birmingham Jail. I know that this announcement would have been better yesterday on the federal holiday but I just recently decided to start this endeavor now instead of just in June. That being said, I will not be able to contribute as much during the heart of the school year as I can the summer months but I hope that when I do contribute it will still be up to the expectations I have set forth for the website. In the meantime, here is what YOU can do. 1. Read the letter, it's not short but it is not particularly long either. Here is the link. 2. Volunteer to contribute a guest article for this site. You can discuss a particular passage, an overall theme, dissect the word choice/syntax/etc. or find connections to your own passions/lives/disciplines/the world at large. In truth, you have a great deal of range to write your contribution to this tapestry of learning. 3. Start the discussion online and in real life. Let's have a great year world!
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