Harper's Academy U.S. History and American Literature

I'm glad to see you all back and diving right in! Our new building is absolutely wonderful and I hope as the weather warms up to be able to move some of our literary circles outside, picnic style. I am totally fine if you'd like to bring in some snacks for those circles to make them feel more cozy and relaxed. Discussing literature shouldn't feel like a chore. :) I was impressed with the work I saw, the cooperation, and the discussions taking place at your tables today. I think there are many English teachers that would be envious of how well these discussions are going. If I haven't told you lately, it is an honor to work with each of you. I'm confident I have the best high school class anywhere. As far as history, our major focus today was on Reconstruction and the Radical Republicans. Again, I was very impressed with your ability to distill and discuss the primary document "Mississippi Black Codes" today. There's some legalese and advanced voc...

You can find the updated syllabus under the tab above. I moved last semester's syllabus underneath. This syllabus is tentative and we may make some minor adjustments over the weeks. Our readings will likely remain the same and our history focus is also going to follow this timeline; however, I am hoping to offer more flexibility with the academic paragraphs. I will also assign some specific history readings each week that compliment the overall lessons for our class. Some of these will be read in class as a group, most others will be directed research for you to read during the week. Also, I will be offering the same ten percent discount to students that pay for the semester in full the first week of class. All monthly tuition is due January 9th. Please be sure to bring in your notebook, the books we are currently reading, and pens or pencils to each class. We are going to pick up a little more writing in class to help those that struggle with turning in homework. :)

I'm hoping that by now, many of you have read this text, or at least started it. However, I do know there will be a few of you reading the cliff notes version before class begins. That's really too bad. I've told you I'm not a fan of Jack London's fiction; however, his own personal story is fascinating. His father was the leader of a cult that didn't want him born, even beating up his mother and telling her to have an abortion. His mother ran away from a 17-room mansion and battled mental illness the rest of her life. She even tried to swallow a bunch of pills in an effort to abort Jack, and when that didn't work, she cast him aside to be raised by a freed slave. He was a staunch socialist, but also a racist. He didn't have his first toothbrush until he was 19, and by then, he had suffered severe decay and tooth loss. Over the break, you are to each prepare for your literary circle. Make it a good one. If you'd like to read some more about ...

Class, This week, I would like you all to finish reading Huckleberry Finn and prepare for your literary circle. We will also have a midterm jeopardy-style game, so review your notes and the blog. I will have questions on every major topic covered. :) We will not have a regular quiz. Also, please bring in your Oxford Book of American Poetry. We are going to be covering Robert Frost in class. I'm not sure we will get the other two stories assigned covered so I will move those to January. We will also have our white elephant party. Remember, this is a gag gift. You are not supposed to go out and buy something, but find some useless/unwanted item from your home to re-gift. Our final class will hopefully be a fun one. We will have an ugly sweater contest with prizes! If you would like to prepare and share a treat, you are welcome to do so. I will bring in donuts for all of you since there was a THREE-WAY TIE on the quiz. I certainly didn't expect that! That's a good sign. E...

Here is the full speech, part of which I read in class today, discussing the principles of Confederacy. You do not need to answer the questions, but those of you interested in Confederate history might want to become familiar with its roots. Alexander H. Stephens' “Cornerstone Speech”             Former Georgia Congressman Alexander Stephens gave this speech just weeks after taking the oath of office as Vice President of the Confederacy. This speech explains the principles upon which the Confederacy was based, and how it differed from the 1787 U.S. Constitution. Savannah, Georgia, March 21, 1861 … I was remarking that we are passing through one of the greatest revolutions in the annals of the world. Seven States have within the last three months thrown off an old government and formed a new. This revolution has been signally marked, up to this time, by the fact of its having been accomplished without the loss of a single d...

The Idealism and Horror of Civil War Battle Your assignment this week in history is to look into some of the stories of the soldiers that fought in the Civil War. Here are some letters and diary entries, so that we are all on the same page. The questions will replace the academic paragraph, and also, help guide our discussion next week. I have not corrected any of their grammar or spelling, so you will read these primary sources as they were written.  Directions: Read the following letters and diaries from soldiers of the Civil War and answer the questions below. Idealism: Sullivan Ballou's Letter to his Wife (1861) Major Sullivan Ballou of Rhode Island wrote the following letter a week before he was killed in battle during the first battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861. The battle, which the South called Manassas (after the nearby railroad junction), was the first major battle of the war and was a disastrous defeat for the Union. Ballou had been hit by a confederat...