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Alan Edwards

Op-Ed Columnist - More Schools, Not Troops - NYTimes.com - 0 views

  • Dispatching more troops to Afghanistan would be a monumental bet and probably a bad one, most likely a waste of lives and resources that might simply empower the Taliban. In particular, one of the most compelling ar
    • Alan Edwards
       
      I botched this quote up with the highlighter, but the jist is that instead of considering deploying 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan, Obama should consider building 40,000 more schools in Afghanistan.
  • a single additional soldier stationed in Afghanistan for one year, we could build roughly 20 schools there.
  • guments against more troops rests on this stunning trade-off: For the cost o
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • guments against more troops rests on this stunning trade-off:
  • Matthew P. Hoh, an American military veteran who was the top civilian officer in Zabul Province, resigned over Afghan policy, as The Washington Post reported this week. Mr. Hoh argues that our military presence is feeding the insurgency, not quelling it.
  • Education isn’t a panacea, and no policy in Afghanistan is a sure bet. But all in all, the evidence suggests that education can help foster a virtuous cycle that promotes stability and moderation.
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    The author mentions the book "Three Cups of Tea." It is a really awesome book. I own it, if anyone wants to borrow it.
Kenneth O'Regan

Lesson Plan: Historical Perspectives: Coming Home from War. PBS Teachers - Resources Fo... - 0 views

    • Kenneth O'Regan
       
      The homecoming experiences of soldiers in World War II, Vietnam, and our current wars are very reflective and telling of national attitudes toward each respective war/conflict. This can help students put these events into a larger historical context.
    • Kenneth O'Regan
       
      The phrase "Support the Troops" was everywhere a few years ago. Its usage has disappeared a little bit now, but what it really means is still very open for interpretation.
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    As another tough topic to tackle in the high school social studies classroom, this multimedia-based PBS lesson plan aims to help students grades 9-12 understand the difficulties encountered by US soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Television, internet, and many other factors have changed the way we view war and receive our veterans. The lesson plan examines the conditions faced by troops returning from not just Iraq and Afghanistan today, but also from Vietnam and World War II. Like the other collection of lesson plans I posted earlier, this is material that can be a little bit emotional, especially for students who have a family or friend connection to veterans.
Kenneth O'Regan

War and Terrorism | National Council for the Social Studies - 3 views

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    This section of the National Council for the Social Studies website appears to be a little bit dated, but the materials that are presented seem to be a useful resource. It must be difficult for social studies teachers to tackle the tough subjects of current global conflict, terrorism, Afghanistan, Iraq, and September 11, 2001. I am sure many school districts are still using textbooks that were printed prior to 2001 or 2002, and just don't cover this relevant information. Some of the items listed on this page are basic and practical (maps, etc.) and others are a bit more engaging and dynamic, aiming to help students develop an emotional connection to the subject matter.
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    How might teachers use what's there, even if it is dated?
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    Global issues classes in high schools will probably cover this subject matter; mine did in-depth. Some of the resources could be useful as hand outs, especially the maps. As an example, maybe over the course of a week or so of instruction, a teacher using this site as a resource could put together a lesson that stretches over the 5 class meetings, chronologically examining the roots of the second War in Iraq, stemming from the Persian-Gulf war, through Clinton's involvement, to 9/11, terrorism, Al-Qaeda being used as a pretext for war, concluding with an examination of the anti-war movement and the short course of the "traditional" war against the Iraqi military. The following week could move in to the insurgency or another related topic. Basically, I see this website as a place where a teacher looking to present the outlined events can find some extra resources that won't be in most textbooks.
Alan Edwards

Combat Stress and the Fort Hood Gunman - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com - 0 views

    • Alan Edwards
       
      Room for Debate seems like a great format for learning about different positions on an issue from current events. Today's essential question: Is post-traumatic stress among caregivers a significant problem? These wars in the Middle East have reminded our nation that soldiers must often fight for their survival on two fronts: overseas as well as at home.
    • Alan Edwards
       
      In today's Room for Debate, the Times as assembled a trauma specialist, a psychologist, a prof. of psychology, and a couple of authors. Each contributer is introduced a sort of credibility check, listing their relevant experience and stake in the discussion.
    • Alan Edwards
       
      The Times hosts these conversations on any current event. Recent discussions have been on Palestine, Last Week's Elections in the US, Afghanistan, Warren Buffett, Biofoods, etc.
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