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HOT TOPICS
Each
month this Hot Topics newsletter looks at a current
educational issue and how it relates to NIE. This
special edition focuses on current events involving
Iraq. Feel free to share this information with your
teachers in any way you choose. You may reformat it
as a tab or as an in-paper series, post it on your
Web site, photocopy and distribute as it is, or
email this document directly.
We believe that the best way for teachers to help
students process these compelling events is to read
and discuss the coverage in your newspaper. This
newsletter provides background information and NIE
activities to supplement their newspaper use.
HOT TOPICS - Other
Curriculum
Ideas
Tips for Teachers For Dealing with Current
Events Concerning Iraq:
As you progress through this information and
activities, there are some things you can do
enhance the educational experience. Some of
those are:
- Listen to your students and watch their
behavior. Some may be quiet but frightened.
Some may act out while others are fine but it
is important to take some time to note any
unusual behavior indicating a deeper emotion
requiring some attention.
- Reassure students that their homes and
school are highly likely to be safe places.
Point out to them that their schools and homes
are functioning normally and the government is
doing all it can to protect them.
- Take time each day to discuss and review the
facts of what is happening versus the fiction
and/or rumor. The newspaper can be a great
help determining between the two.
- While we encourage you to participate in
many of these activities, we also suggest that
you maintain a balance of classroom activity
unrelated to current events. Itıs important
for students to be comforted daily by the
regular routine.
Background on Iraq
Geographic Location
Iraq is situated at the northern tip of the
Arabian Gulf in Southwest Asia and is bounded
on the east by Iran on the south by Kuwait,
Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf, on the west
by Jordan and Syria and on the north by
Turkey.
Its coastline along the gulf is only 30 km (19
mi.) long. Its only port on the gulf, Umm Qasr,
is small and located on shallow water so only
small craft can dock there.
You can download and print a map of the Middle
East by hitting this Web site:
www.rethinkingschools.org/special_reports/maps/smallmap.pdf
People
The population is of Iraq is approximately
23.3 million (2001 estimate), of which 72% are
Arab, 23% are Kurds and the remaining 5% are a
variety of smaller ethnic groups. 95% of
Iraqis claim Sunni or Twelver Shia Islam as
their religion. The official language is
Arabic, which is spoken by about 80% of the
population. The capital of Iraq is Baghdad.
History
Once known as Mesopotamia, Iraq was the home
of many ancient civilizations, including the
Sumerian, Babylonian, and Parthian cultures.
At the end of World War I, Iraq became a
British-mandated territory. In 1932, Iraq
became independent and was ruled as a
constitutional monarchy. In 1945, Iraq joined
the United Nations and became a founding
member of the Arab League. In 1956, the
Baghdad Pact allied Iraq, Turkey, Iran,
Pakistan, and the United Kingdom. Baghdad, in
Iraq, was the headquarters, but, later, Iraqıs
membership in the Pact ended, in 1959. Saddam
Hussein began leading Iraq in 1979.
Background of the Current Crisis
The Iran-Iraq war raged from 1980-88 with Iraq
declaring victory. At its end, the Kurds in
Northern Iraq rebelled against the government
and Hussein ordered attacks using weapons of
mass destruction, including a mass chemical
weapons attack that killed several thousand
civilians.
In 1990, Iraq invaded the neighboring country
of Kuwait. The United Nations Security Council
ordered Iraq to withdraw but they refused.
Then, the Persian Gulf War (sometimes referred
to as "Operation Desert Storm")
began with troops of several countries led by
the U.S. They were able to push the Iraqis out
of Kuwait but Hussein stayed in power in Iraq.
Some people believe that letting Hussein
stay in power then is what is causing this
problem today.
After the Gulf War in 1991, the United Nations
ordered Iraq to destroy its weapons of mass
destruction and any missiles that could go
farther than 93 miles. Inspectors were sent in
to monitor the situation. The inspectors also
destroyed some weapons that they found. The
inspectors remained in Iraq for a few years
and then said that the government of Iraq was
interfering with their work and left the
country. The U.S. threatened to use force
against Iraq and did bomb Baghdad. Iraq
refused to allow any more inspections. They
said they had no more weapons of mass
destruction. Iraq refused to allow the
inspectors to return until recently.
The Crisis Today
There have always been conflicts between
people and nations. What makes this conflict
more frightening, dramatic, and potentially
devastating are the advances that science and
technology have made in developing weapons of
mass destruction, including those of chemical
and biological warfare. Since Iraq has already
used chemical warfare to attack the Kurds in
1988, President Bush doesnıt trust Saddam
Hussein to be honest about the dangerous
weapons they might still have. Bush believes
that Iraq needs new leadership. That is called
"regime change." U.S. officials
thought about different ways they could
arrange for new leadership, but have decided
that a U.S. military attack against Iraq may
be the best option.
One reason this option is dangerous is because
it is unknown what Iraq will do if attacked.
They could attack Israel because Israel is a
friend of the U.S. and, if attacked, Israel
would be likely to hit back, perhaps with
nuclear weapons of its own. At that point, the
U.S. could find itself in a war with Israel
against Iraq and since Iraq is an Arab nation,
this would have a dramatic effect on other
Arab nations. How would other Arab countries
feel about a war against one of their own?
And, if the U.S. succeeds in removing Hussein
from power, what then? It is expensive to
rebuild a country after a war and the U.S.
would have to rebuild Iraq.
And, not everyone wants to go to war. Some
people donıt believe that Iraq is a threat.
Others donıt believe that peace in the region
known as the Middle East will come as a result
of this war. Americans and other countries are
divided in their opinions about this war. It
is not an easy decision for anyone to make.
Here is some of what President Bush has
said about wanting to go to war.
"Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility
toward America and to support terror. The
Iraqi regime has plotted to develop anthrax
and nerve gas and nuclear weapons for over a
decade. This is a regime that has already used
poison gas to murder thousands of its own
citizens....This is a regime that agreed to
international inspections, then kicked out the
inspectors. This is a regime that has
something to hide from the world. States like
these and their terrorist allies constitute an
axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of
the world. By seeking weapons of mass
destruction, these regimes pose a grave and
growing danger....We will be deliberate, yet
time is not on our side. I will not wait on
events while dangers gather. I will not stand
by as peril draws closer and closer. The
United States of America will not permit the
world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us
with the world's most destructive
weapons."
--President Bush, State of the Union address
to Congress, January 29, 2002
"In defending the peace, we face a threat
with no precedent. Enemies in the past needed
great armies and great industrial capabilities
to endanger the American people and our
nation. The attacks of September the 11th
required a few hundred thousand dollars in the
hands of a few dozen evil and deluded men.
....The dangers have not passed....
"The gravest danger to freedom lies at
the perilous crossroads of radicalism and
technology. When the spread of chemical and
biological and nuclear weapons, along with
ballistic missile technology--when that
occurs, even weak states and small groups
could attain a catastrophic power to strike
great nations. Our enemies have declared this
very intention....
"For much of the last century, America's
defense relied on the Cold War doctrines of
deterrence and containment. In some cases,
those strategies still apply. But new threats
also require new thinking. Deterrence--the
promise of massive retaliation against
nations--means nothing against shadowy
terrorist networks with no nation or citizens
to defend. Containment is not possible when
unbalanced dictators with weapons of mass
destruction can deliver those weapons or
missiles or secretly provide them to terrorist
allies.
"Homeland defense and missile defense are
part of stronger security, and they're
essential priorities for America. Yet the war
on terror will not be won on the defensive. We
must take the battle to the enemy, disrupt his
plans, and confront the worst threats before
they emerge. In the world we have entered, the
only path to safety is the path of action. And
this nation will act.
"....our security will require all
Americans to be forward-looking and resolute,
to be ready for preemptive action when
necessary to defend American liberty and to
defend our lives."
--President Bush, graduation speech to West
Point cadets, June 1, 2002
Newspaper Learning Activities to Use
Before the War Begins:
To facilitate studentsı understanding before
any conflict begins, divide students into
groups of four and then into pairs within each
group. Pairs should take opposite views to
answer this question: Should the U.S. attack
Iraq and replace its leader? Students need not
argue their actual feelings, but should defend
the position they are assigned. Teachers
should assign a position to the pairs.
As sources of background information students
can use the newspaper as a primary source and
supplement it with research in magazines, and
on the Internet. They might want to check out
Web sites of the White House, the State
Department and news organizations including
CNN and PBS.
Allow students time to conduct research and
present their arguments within their groups.
Instruct them in ways to listen and debate
without judgement. Then ask each pair to
select their strongest argument and share it
with the class. After the presentations, ask
the students to draft a class statement giving
the majority opinion about U.S. policy.
Here are additional questions to have
students use the newspaper to research.
1. How has the rest of the world responded to
the U.S. position towards Iraq? How has the
Iraqi government responded? How has the UN
responded?
2. What is "national security"? What
are some threats to our security?
3. The President is in favor of a war and not
all Americans agree. Should the President be
allowed to make decisions like this without
the agreement of the American people? How
important should public opinion be when it
comes to matters of national security?
4. Do your students have family or
friends currently serving in the military or
reserves? How are they preparing for war? Do
students think Americans' opinions about the
war with Iraq are influenced by how close they
are to those who will serve if we go to war?
5. Students may role play a debate among
representatives to the UN from one of these
countries -- United Kingdom, France, Russia,
Turkey, or China.
6. Students should understand that conflicts
"escalate" and just as an escalator
works, the higher up one goes, the harder it
is to "de-escalate" or go down. Have
students review the history of the Iraqi
conflict as provided above and note the
factors that led to its escalation. Do
students see any way that this conflict could
have been kept from escalating? Have them
consider conflicts they have been involved in
personally. They should write a summary of a
conflict they have experienced and underline
any "escalating" factors. As they
read the ongoing news about this conflict,
they should be able to identify the
"escalating" factors.
7. What do your students think the U.S. should
do about countries that we think are helping
terrorists? Suppose we suspect certain
countries of aiding terror but we donıt have
definitive proof? Do we need proof or should
we act on suspicion? Students should write
letters to their senator or congressman
telling what actions they think the U.S.
should take to prevent future terrorist acts.
Newspaper Learning Activities to Use If
War Begins:
1. Have students discuss the qualities and
abilities our military leaders should have.
Have them collect articles about the leaders,
identifying those characteristics and
qualities as they are illustrated by news
events.
2. Students may want to take action expressing
their opinions. They can write op-ed columns,
editorials, letters to the editor, send
messages to representatives in Congress or
write to the President. (They can e-mail to
www.whitehouse.gov)
3. Allow time on a regular basis for students
to read the newspaper and talk about what they
read. The news may be frightening and itıs
helpful to allow students to air their
feelings.
4. Students should keep a clipping file of
news stories about the war. As they choose new
articles to add to their files, they should
write a summary of the story and keep that in
the file as well.
5. It may also be interesting for students to
keep a "quotation journal." As
newsmakers are quoted in the newspaper,
students can choose interesting quotes to jot
down and reflect on in writing. It is a good
idea for students to write regularly in
journals so that they have a way to process
what they are hearing and reading about the
war. Encourage students to share their
thoughts with their families at home, too.
6. If you have military personnel in your
community, you may want to invite a speaker to
your classroom to talk to students about this
military action. The perspective of a military
member adds a new dimension to your class
discussions.
7. As this war rages, there will be other
important news, too. Encourage students to
take note of other happenings in the world.
Even in times of war, life continues and
students may find comfort in realizing this.
8. Occasionally, ask students to skim the
newspaper to find some "Good News."
You may want to display these clippings on a
bulletin board.
9. Facilitate a discussion about the word,
"security." What does it mean to
students? Have them use a dictionary to define
the term and then write about what makes them
feel secure and insecure. They should skim the
newspaper to find stories that contribute to
their feelings of security and insecurity.
10. April is National Poetry Month. Invite
students to write "found" poems
about the conflict by using words they find in
the headlines. This is a good exercise to
allow students to voice their opinions and
their feelings. A group of poets who were
against the war delivered poems of their
feelings to members of Congress. Students can
read those poems online at www.nthposition.com/100poets.html
Following the reading of the poems, allow time
for a discussion about disagreeing with our
governmentıs policies. Is it disloyal to
disagree with this war? Can a person be a
patriot and still be against the war?
11. The
news coverage may include photos of children
in a war zone. Allow students time to discuss
what it might be like to live inside such a
zone and why it is important for people,
especially children, outside the zone to know
what is happening there. The newspaper may
include first person descriptions of the
events. Consider reading those articles aloud
as students read along or listen with their
eyes closed and to note your words carefully.
They can then quickly write their reactions to
the material. What events are most and least
disturbing to them? What more do they want to
know? How can they learn more? This activity
allows students to personalize this new
information swiftly and efficiently. Since
some of the vocabulary might prove
challenging, it may be helpful to keep a
running list of new words on the board as they
come up. For homework, students can define the
new words using a dictionary.
Additional
resources for teaching about the war can be
found online at:
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/
Hot Topics Publications
For Educators, By Educators
PO Box 183
Wyncote, PA 19095-0183
ph: 215 635-1120, 800 352-5444
E-mail hottopics@comcast.net
Web site http://www.hottopicsnie.com
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