Appleseed Goes to School

[DryFire]

It all started back in April when my wife and I attended the Athens, OH Appleseed on April 18th and 19th. My wife is a 7th grade school teacher and was very impressed with the history presented by The Guy and Meanstreaker.  So impressed that when she went back to school that following Monday she told the 7th grade history teacher that she just had to have someone come in and give the history to her students. My wife continued to talk about the history after she attended a mini at Miamisburg, OH. She also told the teacher about Paul Revere's Ride by Fischer and how I had read it and loved the book. This was enough to get the teachers curiosity up and she got the book from the library and then spent time over the summer reading Paul Revere's Ride. When she came back in the fall she did indeed wanted someone to come and give the history to her class when they reached that unit. All through the summer I worked what shoots I could and worked on learning the history myself. I the received my red had from none other than The Guy on Nov. 1

Using my wife as the middle man I continued to converse with the history teacher and we decided on the dates of Wednesday December 16th and Thursday 17th to do the history. I had received permission from the principal to bring in a flintlock and/or bayonet if I felt it necessary. I was able to locate a flintlock muzzle loading rifle locally but it was without bayonet, and I couldn't find a brown bess. After thinking about it I choose to bring in the bayonet from my 91/30 Nagant as the example of a bayonet and forego the rifle since the bayonet could easily be set down, and be out of sight and out of mind, therefore less of a distraction, while the rifle would probably take their attention away from the story. I wanted to emphasize to the kids that the Redcoats were feared not for their ball but for the bayonet, and for that the Nagant bayonet worked well.

I had 45 min. each day with the students and three classes each day. On the 16th I presented to them the lead up to the dates of April 18th and 19th 1775, Paul Revere's Ride, and the First Strike. Then on the 17th I presented the last two strikes of the match, and the stories of the dangerous old men. I also had time for some questions on the 17th, some were video game related, but many were pretty thoughtful. Several of the girls wanted to know what became of Hanna Davis and her children after her husband had been killed at the north bridge. Others wondered why those men surrendered to the little old lady, and of course everyone was amazed at how Samuel Whittemore survived. Since I was talking with 7th graders I made an effort to talk about drummers and fifers, since they were not to far in age from my audience. I spoke most specifically about the younger Johnathan Harrington, William Diamond, and Luther Blanchard. I was sure to make clear the fact that those men had only 2 choices but that they gave us a 3rd. I also told them that the next time they hear their parents complain about the government and its goings on that they needed to challenge them and ask them the last time they sent a letter, an e-mail, or made a phone call, and for some the last time they voted. I also told them that these men knew very well what they were about, that they were about something greater than themselves, and I challenged them to be about something more than just me, myself, and I. As I gave the presentation you saw the usual variety of reactions, some kids sat intently listening, others only half listening, and in one class I had 2 that slept through the presentation. I made sure to publicly chastise them later for it.

The teacher told me after I was done on Wed. that she had spent a good portion of the time in the back of the room writing down as much as she could. She also said she had never seen these kids that quiet. Overall she was very much pleased with the presentation, and I am more then welcome to return next year.  She also suggested I write up a flyer and present it to the principal so that he could take it to the principal's cluster meeting, possibly giving me access to other schools. I, of course, will be following up on that over their Christmas break. I fully intended to video as many of the presentations as I could so I could look back and see what I could improve on. Sadly due to the camera not cooperating I was only able to get 2 of the 3 presentations of strikes 2 and 3 on video. I was also sent by Fred enough of the youth patches to give them to the kids as a reminder and a reward. My wife said that the kids didn't put the patches away for the rest of the day. Many as they would go from class to class would take them with them, and then leave them on their desk tops for the duration of class.

Today my wife brought me home letters from each of the students. The teacher after I had left on Thursday had the kids spend some time writing thank you letters and again they reflect pretty clearly those that got it and those that didn't. Here are some quotes from a few of those that did get it.

From Graham B. "I especially loved the fact that the communities all came together to attack the Redcoats!"

From Brad M. "Thank you for bringing in the patches. The patches were really cool. The drummer boy was my favorite part."

From Jessica R. "Thanks so much for coming to our school, I am very interested in all history, While you were telling us the stories, I was picturing it in my mind!."

From Jessica F. "I thank you so much, for coming and telling their story." "As I said thank you ohh so much, and keep preaching the word it sure changed me."

From Alex R. "Your RWVA group should do that presentation at Victory to. They would love it! I wish you could it with every school around here."

I think we have hit on something here all. If we get them thinking early enough not only do we impact their lives and futures but also they take this stuff home with them. I can only hope they take me up on my suggestion to challenge their parents on writing, e-mailing, etc. Hopefully too that they will open their eyes to that which is around them and they will get involved. Overall it was well worth the two half days of my time to have an impact on 58 of our nations youth. To any and all, go find out at what grade the kids in your area learn their Revolutionary War History, and then approach a teacher about coming in and giving a presentation. The worst they will say is no. Here is another way that we can have an impact so let us not be afraid to take this idea and run with it.

DryFire

[MeanStreaker]

Wow.

Even though I was blown away with your mini report when we talked on the phone, reading those responses from the kids just now put a serious lump in my throat.

Folks, thanks to the RWVA and dedicated Instructors like Tim that go ABOVE and BEYOND always, I'd say we just got a little closer to saving our country.

Thank you, my friend.