Hooray for Hollywood

Today was the kind of day that I live for as a teacher.  My students and I had a wonderful time on our trip to Richmond. It was a bit cold, but we managed.  The highlight of the trip was the Lee statue along Monument Avenue.  We spent quite a bit of time looking at it from various angles and discussing both the pose of Lee as well as a Traveler.  It is indeed a beautiful monument.  I was also surprised by the interest expressed in the Jefferson Davis Monument.  It’s the perfect contrast with the reconciliationist message of the Lee statue.  There is nothing apologetic about the Davis statue and its assertion of states rights as well as other bits of Lost Cause symbolism.  From there we headed on over to the Arthur Ashe monument to discuss the fierce debate that ensued over its placement on the same avenue as Lee, Davis, Stuart, and Jackson.  As I was talking a passerby yelled from his car, “Tear it down.”  A few of the students were surprised and a bit disappointed, but it was the perfect reinforcement to my commentary, which emphasized the continued divisiveness over Civil War memory and who can claim rightful ownership of certain public spaces.  Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to hit the Lincoln-Tad statue at Tredegar, but we did take quite a hike through Hollywood Cemetery, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  All in all it was a great day and this particular group of students made it extra special.  Here are a few pictures from the trip followed by a poem that one of my students composed from each site.  All of the photographs can be found on my flickr page.

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A General today still a symbol to many, ever proud and tall, he instills pride in any.  The cause disputed, different to all, and perhaps there’s still shock at the Confederacy’s “fall”.

An elaborate wall built to vindicate, the man in front, leader of states.  Praise to his army and written law of the land his hand opened up, he asks for respect yet remorse or apologies one should never expect.

Controversy caused by a monument to one, he fought his disease, a battle not conquered.  Yet instead of looking back at segregation, he fought to show his path towards a new kind of nation.

A river to one side with roads to the next, nestled between thousands laid to their rest.  Winding roads, past blocks of stone, bodies of many who fought for their homes.  Some fought in the East, and some in the West now all are together here laid to their rest.  Dates rubbed away and names never known, sacrifice, though, still not forgotten.

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7 comments… add one
  • Greg Rowe Jan 24, 2009 @ 10:03

    That would be great. I need all the help I can get. I really want to do this right and prepare the students to answer deeper questions regarding history, regardless of the era being studied.

  • Greg Rowe Jan 24, 2009 @ 9:55

    I guess I need to go back and take an English class! I can’t spell!

  • Greg Rowe Jan 24, 2009 @ 9:49

    The poem presents a very thoughtful interpretation by your student.

    The things I missed on my trip to Virginia this past summer was a trip to Hollywood Cemetery and Tredegar, but I was travelling on someone else’s dime and didn’t want to impose upon their generosity. Besides, Professor Gallagher and Gilder Lehrman kept us pretty busy!

    I do envy your opportunities to take students to places like this, but, as I begin preparing to tach a Civil War class next year, I have located a local cemetery in which over half of those buried there are Civil War veterans. Mostly Confederate, but I have seen a list of the markers in the cemetery and know of a few Union veterans. Not popular in this part of the state, but a reality and a taching opportunity nonetheless.

    Also, I am planning to take my students to the Texas Confederate Museum in Fort Worth. It is owned by the UDC of Texas, so I suppose I’ll have to control the urge to interpret on site and save that for the classroom!

    • Kevin Levin Jan 24, 2009 @ 9:59

      I had lunch a few weeks ago with GG which is always a real treat. The trip was a real blast, but I do wish I could take advantage of these places even more. A field trip to your local cemetery is a great way to impress upon your students that there is important history everywhere. I know you teach middle school, but you can get them to start thinking about memory and interpretation with a trip to the Texas Confederate Museum. Let’s stay in touch as you get closer to the trip as I would love to help out with questions for your students to consider if you think it might help.

  • Richard G. Williams, Jr. Jan 23, 2009 @ 6:42

    You should take your class to Oakwood Cemetery as well some time Kevin. It too has a very interesting history:

    http://oldvirginiablog.blogspot.com/search?q=oakwood

    Best,
    RGW

  • Kevin Levin Jan 23, 2009 @ 4:45

    Don’t worry Jeb, you will get your turkey dinner tonight. With mom leaving for the weekend, who knows, there may be other goodies in store for you.

  • Jebediah Jan 22, 2009 @ 20:43

    Great poem! Though, with all due respect: I am well and alive… well almost, if you would feed me a little more of that turkey stuff that smells so delicious. Does anybody hear me, anybody up yet? FEED ME!
    Signed,
    Honorable Jebediah aka Jeb Stuart (starving, but not dead)

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