Uganda and heroes

It looks at the time of writing that Scotland will remain a part of the UK. Check up on www.bbc.co.uk for life coverage of the result.

Today we will divide the class.


First of all make sure you have borrowed a classic book by today and write up the title and author on the list on the teacher's desk.

The classic novels (works) are mainly in the first glass cupboard as you go towards the Lingotek.

The task for your reading is on  last Monday's blog.

Students from SA12 -we will work in the Green Room making sure all your questionnaires and interview questions  for your field studies in Uganda are correct and comprehensible.

The rest of the class will work on the theme of Heroes and Heroines...

There are three texts about this topic in our text book

Dust of Life (p.39)
Heroes in the rubble  (p.45)
The Feather Men  (p.56)

Here are some personal comments having read two of them:-

Dust of life

Pre-Reading Activity
 Liz Thomas was only a year older than most of you are when she left everything that was familiar and secure to work with war victims in Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War (around 1973).

Discuss what can make a person do as she did. In what circumstances would you do the same?

Comment
This text is a huge challenge to our lifestyle  based on comfort and self-indulgence. It really asks the question as to what is truly important in life. We need heroes and heroines (not heroin!) to shake us up and wake us up!

Alternative title
Leaving it all behind

The heroes in the rubble

Pre-Reading Activity
It's now 13 years this September since the events of 11th September took place. I remember walking past a classroom in school and seeing a student stare at the TV screen. I thought it was a movie. The whole thing was surreal. I remember watching the rescue service personnel running and trying to save the victims.

Comment
I thought immediately about Shakespeare's quote from "Twelfth Night"
Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them

If  Liz in "Dust of Life" achieves "greatness" then the rescue workers of this text "have greatness thrust upon them".
The article is written like a TV script offering cameo pictures of the aftermath of the 9/11 attack. The aim is to highlight the bravery of the rescue workers and, in my view, it succeeds.

Alternative title
Above and beyond the call of duty



Now do the same with "The Feather Men"
Before you read the text,a comment after and an alternative title for the text

Mail your answers to me!

Now work in small groups.

I want you to discuss "What makes a hero/heroine?"
Make a list of criteria for being able to call someone a hero.

Decide on ONE well-known person who you can agree on in the group who can be called a hero/heroine.

Every year in Sweden there is a gala for "Everyday heroes"
Why are heroes important for us? Write a reflection.

A lot of people would consider someone like Kristian Gidlund a hero. Would you agree in your group?

Finally there are national heroes:-

Gustav Wasa- Sweden
William Wallace- Scotland
Robin Hood- England (or maybe Winston Churchill)
Nelson Mandela (South Africa)
Charlemagne (France)
In Jamaica on 20th October every year they have a "National Heroes' Day".

Try to find out something about some of these people..
Why were they heroes?

Send in all your material on a joint document clearly marked with your names