Sam Yamashida Day 2

[Anonymous]

Sam connected with the class immediatly, by telling us stories of when he was young. what a great teacher, he came across as real and caring. I started off my school year by sharing about myself and my summer. I wanted to build a connection with my students, to let them know that i was at one time in the six grade. I even showed them a pic. of me when i was in the six grade. I learned alot about Japan, and i greatly appreciate it, but i learned how to be a better teacher, and for that i am greatful.
I think this class was more geared to high school teachers, but i still got many resources out of this that i will use in my classroom.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I agree with the previous posts, Sam Yamashita's lectures were mesmerizing, as was his pace and the tone of his voice. If’ I ever won the lottery, which I don’t but my mother does (good enough), I would teach one high school class, travel everywhere and treat myself to classes like this whenever possible. Sam’s two days of lecture were fascinating! The discussion of the Meiji Resoration (1868-1911), is a period of such rapid technological transformation in such a short period! I did know this before, but only from an admittedly boilerplate cursoury knowledge. From Cpt. Perry’s visit, through the takeover of the Tokugawa in on Jan. 1, 1868, to the defeat of Russian naval forces three decades later, to the audacious aireal attack on Hawaii at the end of 1941; from a purely technological point of view it is an amazing story. I want to know more about the Sakamoto Ryoma and his vision for a new Japan from a 19th century Japanese perspective and I want to read Miyoshi’s book “As We Saw Them”.

Kelly

[Anonymous]

Wait I’m not done here! Rand asked if my feathers had been ruffled by Professor Yamashita’s diminishing of Iris Chang’s “The Rape of Nanking” and Daniel Goldhagen’s book “Hitler’s Willing Executioners” as being polemic works, but the answer Rand (hi Rand) is not at all, my mind is like any old wagon wheel in a rut and I need my axle straighted out now and then to climb out for a differnet view of things. Cleary I see the personalized nature of what is often a rant. For Ms. Chang, whilst separating that from the innocence of her passion in trying to “report” on such a tragic and horrific event in recent history is something I now understand more clearly. Good teaching by Sam.
Aside from that, I was deeply saddened when I first heard the news and circumstances of Iris Chang’s passing not long after I first read the book and I still am.

Kelly

[Anonymous]

Kelly, I also enjoyed reading The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang. Though it is not historically accurate, it is good fiction because it brings awareness to the general public about an incident that otherwise would not have been widely discussed. Perhaps, other classroom teachers who have taken a liking to the book may now devote more discussion time on the issue when it is mentioned in the textbook.

[Anonymous]

I recently visited the Japanese Friendship Garden at Balboa Park in San Diego. It's a fairly small garden, I believe smaller than the one in Huntington, but interesting enough.

Here's the link to those who happen to be in town and are curious. There are many more museums and exhibits in the park.

http://www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/detail.php?OrgID=8[Edit by="schau on Aug 27, 12:35:46 AM"][/Edit]
[Edit by="schau on Aug 27, 12:36:07 AM"][/Edit]

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