Dispersing our Lincoln Knowledge

WATCH OUT, Galesburg Public Schools! We are hitting your local classrooms this spring with nothing but Lincoln, Lincoln, Lincoln. This week our "Lincoln Scholars" visited classrooms at Costa, Nielson, and Carl Sandburg, dispersing the seeds of Abe knowledge.

Amelia and Lily visited second graders with hopes of deepening the understanding of the Civil War. They were shocked by the intelligent questions of the students.

Olivia, Jessie, and Travis shared their Seussified biography of Mr. Lincoln with a group of attentive first graders at Costa.

Diego, Taylor, and Brandon went to Carl Sandburg College, bringing along facts about the Underground Railroad, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Southern perspective on the Civil War.

Don't fret, students. Our tour of District 205 is far from over. Watch out for a presentation near you!

ACTION!!!

This week was incredibly busy as we listened to speakers and went to see the play Our American Cousin. We started off the week with a speaker, our own Judge Harry Bulkeley. He gave many insights about General Ulysses S. Grant. We learned that General Grant was the most revered man in the 19th century, but the public later created many misconceptions.

As we prepared to see Our American Cousin, Dr. William Wallace, the director of the play, came and spoke about Monmouth College's interpretation of this play. We learned that they were making the play authentic and emphasizing the assassination in the third act.

We were welcomed into the Orpheum Theatre in Galesburg to see an excerpt of this play on Frday April 3. After the excerpt, we were given the chance to ask questions allowing us to gain more insight of the history behind the play and characters.

Prof. Wilson and Prof. Davis

This week in Lincoln Seminar, nationally known Lincoln historians, Prof. Wilson and Prof. Davis of Knox College, luckily joined us. These two enlightened men gave us insights on President Lincoln's life and tribulations throughout his life from growing up in Kentucky to life in the White House.

We were allowed asked them questions that we made up ourselves. One of the most interesting questions was how Lincoln's life would've changed if he were fully educated in school instead of self-educated. Prof. Wilson told us that if Lincoln was formally educated, his speeches and writing might have been a lot more "flowery.”

The Lincoln Seminar Goes with the Wind

The Scarlett saga came to an end on Friday, March 20th, with the Lincoln Seminar class in a state of amazement at the Academy Award winning movie. With the knowledge that the class has gained by observing the conflicts of the Civil War, the students were acquainted with the dramatic events of the movie, Gone With the Wind.

One of the most memorable scenes was when Scarlett returns to Tara and is faced with the challenge of survival. This event brought the class to a realization of how damaged the South was from all the battles that had taken place during the war. The scene also emphasizes how women lead their families and households through the harsh times.

Gettysburg Historian

This week our class was joined by history Professor Matthew Norman from Gettysburg College. He answered some of our questions as well as told us of events we had no idea that had even occurred. For example, Gettysburg College, previously known as Pennsylvania College, was actually part of the battleground. The right most flank of the Confederate army was placed right in the middle of the college grounds. Some fighting actually occurred there in addition to having a hospital stationed in Pennsylvania Hall aiding both Union and Confederate troops.

We orginally came into contact with Professor Norman when one of our students, Brondon Davis, emailed Professor Norman inquiring about the happenings durring the Battle of Gettysburg. We were very surprised to find out that Professor Norman was a graduate of Knox College and lives part of the year at his home here in Galesburg.