I am on a break from teaching at the moment and when I asked the student to stop what they were doing for a minutes silence they asked "why?"
I had to stop after and explain why we have a minutes silence. These are 15-16 year olds.
Part of australias history and they have no idea at all
I am on a break from teaching at the moment and when I asked the student to stop what they were doing for a minutes silence they asked "why?"
I had to stop after and explain why we have a minutes silence. These are 15-16 year olds.
Part of australias history and they have no idea at all
Adrian
Precisely why we should be teaching it in schools.
Half of them are flat out remembering about the Gulf War, let alone anything earlier.
Last edited by renormalised; 11-11-2009 at 01:03 PM.
I just finished reading a book called Pacific Fury about (obviously) the pacific war, and Australia's role in it. Very interesting reading.
I'm now reading A Bstard Of A Place, specifically about the Papuan campaign - not just Kokoda though. More about Milne Bay, Gona, Buna and Sanananda as well.
Dad was up in PNG...he was a reconnaissance scout. Before that, he was in the Middle East...fought at Tobruk and such.
He used to tell us all stories about what went on...unfortunately, he passed away 7 years ago, now, and it never occurred to me to write them down. I can still remember most of what he said, so I might just do that anyway. Before I end up forgetting!!!.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
I'm gradually educating our kids about the folly of war, it's horrors and sadness. Images of devastated landscapes, barely sane soldiers and burned children do a good job of dispelling any romantic notions of war. Throw manipulative or incompetent leaders into the mix and it's clearly something to be avoided.
I do my remembering in small, regular doses - it's too depressing otherwise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AdrianF
I am on a break from teaching at the moment and when I asked the student to stop what they were doing for a minutes silence they asked "why?"
I had to stop after and explain why we have a minutes silence. These are 15-16 year olds.
Part of australias history and they have no idea at all
Did they beat the drum slowly
Did they play the fife lowly
Did they sound the death march as they lowered you down
And did the band play the last post and chorus
Did the pipes play The flowers of the fallen.
An old farmer that I worked with some years ago told me some horrific instances of his time in France, one I will never forget was of him seeing his mates drown in the mud. Madness.
