Today I started teaching about Vietnam. I always like to open this unit with music. There are so many great songs and poems written about this time period. I have a Livebinder that has links to the YouTube videos, with lyrics for most.
I like to start off reading Masters of War by Bob Dylan. It is a powerful piece that really gets there attention. We have a lot to discuss after about what does it say about the war, and the feeling of the author. It is a great point of view piece to discuss the difference between the politicians and the people. We also compare and contrast it to the wars today.
We follow up with Travelin Soldier. I play the Dixie Chicks version, because I find the violins and Natalie Maines voice are hypnotic.
Then there are other songs. But that isn't what I wanted to write about. Today, after going through this ritual I noticed a student in the back, with tears in her eyes. After class she came up to me for a hug, she has a brother serving in the army. She and her friends stayed and talked about it for a few minutes, and as she left she said "I love this class."
Wow. It was amazing. It was touching. Another student asked to keep her copy of Masters of War. She said it was the best thing she had ever written. Another asked to redo it for their own mix.
The music made students who never talk come alive. It made them identify to the time. They made connections to what is happening today. They felt it. They could transcend time and be in the heart of the protest movements.
What more can we ask for?
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