Week Seventeen

This Week

Time flew by this week, it's hard to remember what all we did! We began the week by finishing up our studies of the Bosnian Genocide, looking at how the evolution of international law has led to the creation of the ICTY (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia) and watched a short clip about the ICC, or International Criminal Court, an outgrowth of the 1998 Rome Conference that created this "court of last resort."

The rest of the week we studied the Rwandan Genocide. On Tuesday, students read about the Rwandan genocide and then on  watched a Frontline documentary on the event, finishing up today. Afterwards, we practiced the listening skill of asking questions, and I asked students to write down a question they had about the conflict. I'd encourage you to ask them what the question was that they wrote down and asked in class and talk through with them what they learned through this experience. They had some really good ones that I hope you will talk with them about.

Also, on Wednesday, we had an exciting Exhibition Night where many students showed off all of the hard work they've been doing this semester. It was great seeing many of you there, and I learned a lot about what they're learning and doing in their other classes. I learned a little bit about what lysing is (and what it does to beets), got to read many personal memoirs, and I saw many videos from the Westcott House and Public Service Announcements, so it was a great learning experience for me too!

Below are some pictures from the students who were in my room.

It was a busy night!

Some of the students getting ready for the event... last minute preparations!

Dr. Harris, (WSU) Dean of the College of Education and Human Services and DRSS board member, stops to hear from a student about her learning experience.

Upcoming Week

Next week is an exciting one for me as we begin to study one of my personal "favorite" conflicts to study, which is the Conflict in Northern Ireland, aka "The Troubles." I enjoy studying this conflict in part because I visited Northern Ireland a few years ago and I love the people there, but more importantly because I have two guest speakers who come and speak to the students each year who are from Northern Ireland and can talk with firsthand experience about their experiences during The Troubles. Those individuals are Dr. Noeleen McIlvenna, a DRSS parent (for one more year!) and WSU History Professor from a small Northern Ireland town, and Eoghan Gregory, a local engineer who was born and raised in Belfast.

After hearing from them we will discuss current, ongoing conflicts/genocides happening now and brainstorm ways in which we can use our poster project to help raise awareness about and raise money for those suffering through these. To see past posters, please check out our Conflict and Genocide page on the DRSS website here.

Have a great weekend!

~Mr. Grieve