Alan J. Pitts
Re: test results
Wed Jul 4 13:51:10 2001


Wayne --

Your professional experience over the time makes your reflections on students in the last decade or so more interesting. I have been reading a book entitled, "Endangered Minds: Why Children Don't Think and What We Can do About It" by Jane M. Healy. Many of Dr. Healy's observations hit close to home. More on that later. Here's the link you mentioned earlier:

http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/foundation/press_release/pr_historysurvey2001.html

Since so many students don't read as they once did, the hands-on approach is the best we can do. When I have an opportunity with a younger class, I'll bring musket balls, an Enfield, some period coins. Things like that. I use the coins to put the cost of things in perspective. Question: if I hired one of you boys to come to my farm and work for a day, how much would you expect to be paid? They haven't a clue, but someone will eventually get close, and I'll hand him his pay for the day in silver coins minted at New Orleans before the war. It makes an impression, and then I can explain how much undeveloped land costs per acre if they were thinking of starting their own farm, and then we discuss how much a slave will cost. As I said, it will put matters in perspective.

I hand the Enfield to a young lady. Most boys know a little about a firearm, but the girls have never held anything like it. Makes an impression. Then I pass out musket balls and ask what might happen if these were to strike something solid, like a rock, a brick or perhaps a bone in their shoulder or thigh. What kind of medical treatment do they expect. What's gangrene? Amputation?

Again, it makes an impression. I wish it was easier to get kids to read; we can't always do show and tell for them.