Civil Rights Field Trip Reflection

·       What did you learn on the field trip? – I already knew about racial segregation and I knew what white men did to African Americans. I didn’t know just how horrible they were though. After watching the video about the 16th Street Church bombing, and the violent ways they reacted to the Children’s March, I was shocked and disgusted. To blast someone with a fire hose and to let your dogs on children and teenagers was inhumane and it made me cringe.

·       What’s the difference between hearing about these events in a classroom and “experiencing” the places, people, and artifacts of the events? – It made me learn about the subject and empathize with the victims so much more than I ever could have in class. Being at the place where this all happened really helped me understand a little more, and to see what actually happened.  

·       Did this experience in any way change your own perspective on Civil Rights’ issues?  If so, how? – I still feel just as I used to about Civil Rights, if anything I just understand bigger aspects about them.

·       Imagine a conversation with someone who is arguing that the Civil Rights Field Trip is a waste of time.  Even if you personally feel that way too, empathize with the teachers, administrators, educational experts, and community members who have decided that the field trip is worth taking.  How can this trip for busy Randolph 11^th graders be justified?  In a time when it is easy to view anything on screens, what’s the value of actually going to a historic site? – I think that most field trips that we have gone on were not very interesting or exciting so we automatically think assume that every field trip that we go on will be boring and a wasted attempt to help us learn. But this wasn’t the case atleast in my opinion. We definitely could have learned the facts about this event by watching a video in class, or taking notes on paper, but by going to the site it helped us learn the why, and reasoning behind everything that happened. Visiting the site also gives us a different feeling while we’re there that helps us empathize more.

Questions about World War I

1. When did World War I (The Great War) begin, and Why?  (What was the immediate cause?) Between what two groups of allies was it fought?  Give the name and member countries for each of the opposing sides. – 1914; The assassination of Franz Ferdinand and Sophie; Russia/Serbia, Germany/Austria-Hungary

2.When and why did the United States enter the war? – 1917

3. When and why did World War I come to an end? – The Second Battle of Marne

4. What were the terms of the major agreement ending the war?  Why did the United States not ratify this treaty, even though President Wilson had played such a major role in negotiating it? - 

5. Come up with a question of your own.  What would you like to know?  What do the facts about World War I make you wonder? – Why did so many countries get involved in this war, when it was a singular cause in the beginning? Why did the war have such a “domino affect” on the world?

Worl War I - History.com