Selections from Machiavelli's The Prince are read, discussed, and debated in this weeklong GHP course in order to determine whether or not Machiavelli was a cynic, a patriot, or a political scientist. After placing Machiavelli in the history of ideas and in Renaissance historiography (Chabod, Whitfield, Gilbert, Jensen), core chapters of his masterpiece will be carefully analyzed by means of a student centered Socratic approach, which unravels the structure of the book and presents a summary of it. Under certain circumstances, can various immoral actions of a leader be justified, and if so, how? Or is Machiavelli suggesting a new category of behaviour for the leader, viz, amorality? With reference to recent historical events (i.e. the Second Gulf War), were the actions of current leaders (according to Machiavelli) moral, immoral, or amoral?
Truslow | To Top
This week long course on Irish families in New York City in the era of the Civil War is based on the reproduced copies of the pension files of the families of the Irish Brigade. Students are asked to become one of the Irish families. The goal of the course is to reconstruct the life of the family in all of its aspects. Did Civil War service help or hurt those who survived the war, and, if so, how? A study in the standard of living of Irish peasants trapped in an urban seting, students first compile a data chart that includes all the categories that they can find in the pension file for filling in the facts about the history of the family. Date of immigration to America, marriage date, number of children, health of soldiers, battles fought in, and pension award amount are essential to answering our question on the relationship between Civil War service and acculturation.
Truslow | To Top
This course focuses on the effects of human failure to bond, attachment disorder, and child abuse as they relate to the FBI profiling characteristecs of serial killers. Students will analyze the case study Katherine, and view the video, Child of Rage. Students will explore the importance of human bonding as it relates to babies and analyze attachment issues. There will be numerous discussions on the importance of quality bonding parenting which will empower them to become good parents. They will do a self-reflective study on their attachment issues and learn coping strategies, which will empower them through their lifetime. Students will explore known serial killers and analyze their profiels for evidence of attachment dysfunction. Students will synthesize and analyze the information as it can be applied to problem resolutions for societal changes. Students will engage in primary research utilizing the London Times and the New York Times from 1850 to the present. They will become familiar with microfiche and microfilm programs. They will research perioddical aritcles using the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature and the Internet. This research will empower them as they continue their studies in high school and college.
Holden | To Top
This course will enable each student to have experiences researching basic primary history sources. The students will complete a presentation entitled, "The Day I Was Born. Student research will encompass examples of information from periodicals, the Internet, Books microfiche, and microfilm relevant to the month, date, and year that they were born. Student research will include, but not be limited to examples of the following disciplines: Economic, Historical, Political, Religious, Social, Arts - Dance, Theatre, Music, Movies, Television, Play - Toys and Games, Educational - Trends, Psychological, Current Events, Clothing Trends, and Teen-Age Happenings.
Holden | To Top
This course will explore competing claims of social justice, through an analysis of just war theory, which serves as one example of the ethical principles embedded in every political, social, and economic policy decision. The focus on justice as fairness as part of a comprehensive democratic conception will address such issues as the existence of inviolable human rights, oppression of freedoms, liberty, and equality of opportunity. As a discussion based course, students will be asked to engage in reflective deliberations where they critically analyze their own and others' notions of social justice in an effort to better articulate the concepts presented and develop a consensus on the meaning of democracy. Students will use this framework as a template for understanding past, present, and future decisions which result in waged war, including a case study of Iraq. In addition to these objectives, students will critique the use of symbolic language as a means of political socialization, indoctrination, and the distortion of meanings. All of these variables will then be used to conceptualize students generated depictions of democracy in a fair and just society.
Byrd | To Top
This course will explore U.S. military recruitment, service, structure and its potential impact on the human psyche. Emphasis will be placed on the common adjustment difficulties encountered by those entering into the military and those who have experieicned actual combat. Students will be exposed to the diagnosis and treatment of various disorders which are most often seen in military mental health facilites. As a discussion based course, students will be asked to engage in reflective deliberations where they critically analyze their own and others' notions of supporting troops during a war, patriotism, and the military as a means to provide basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, health care, education). Students will look at the ethical questions surrounding mandatory service in the form of a military draft.
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The Gospel of the Egyptians, the Gospel of Mary, the Gospel of Peter, and the Acts of John, the Acts of Paul, the Acts of Pilate, the Apocalypse of Peter, the Secret Book of Mark, the Secret Book of John; these are but a few of the early Christian texts discovered or recovered through modern archaeological work in the last century. This class will examine these "lost" scriptures and the first through third century groups who used them. Students will attempt to find the historical answers to the following: What exactly did these people believe and how did they come to be suppressed, reformed, or forgotten? Why did none of these writings make it into the New Testament? How did Christian practice go from a multidisciplinary approach to one orthodox set of beliefs. Lastly, what does this tell us about the ways in which history gets written by the winners?
Jenkins | To Top
This class offers an in depth study of one of the most eventful and tumultuous years in all of US history. The capture of the USS Pueblo by North Korea, the Tet offensive in Vietnam, My Lai, the decision of Lyndon Johnson to withdraw from the presidential race, the assassinations of M.L. King and Robert Kennedy, race riots, anti-war demonstrations, hippies, yippies, Richard Nixon, George Wallace, draft-card burning, bra burning, and Black Power protests at the Olympics are but a few of the crises that the nation had to face during this one, fateful year. Through the use of primary accounts, students will attempt to determine how the average citizen reacted to these events and discern any long-term effects on the nation and its people. Oh, let's not forget why we most remember the 60's today: sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Students will also examine the cultural revolution sweeping America at this time.
Jenkins | To Top
This course is a case study based on the impacts of dams on the rivers, the economy, culture, and environment of a country or region. The focus question is "Why did the country/state choose to build dams at these sites?" Students will analyze, synthesize, and apply knowledge gained through primary research, maps, periodicals, discussion, statistical data, and information from videos. The goal of the course is to discover the pros and cons of dam building by analyzing and evaluating existing dams. They will use primary research, periodicals, maps, statistical data, historical information, and video footage to analyze the economic, cultural and environmental impacts of dams. Dams they will be studied are as follows: Three Gorges Dam (China), Aswan High Dam(Egypt), and Hoover Dam (USA). Each student will prepare an editorial about the Three Gorges Dam in China including information from the Aswan High Dam and the Hoover Dam.
Wright | To Top
This course is a study of the impact of colonialism on Africa. Students will explore cultural concerns/issues that have changed Africa. They will analyze, synthesize, and apply knowledge gained through primary research, periodicals, discussion,and video information. What are the major issues in Africa at this time? The students will explore both the positive and negative impact on the economic development, political issues, environmental problems, and the current AIDS crisis as a result of decolonization. They will analyze maps, statistical data,Population Reference Bureau materials, video footage, and news articles. The following questions will be used as focus questions for research and discussion: How does the relationship of a country's geographical features and economic activities impact the population's standard of living? Why has Africa's population growth resulted in an overall decline in income and the destruction of the land/environment? What is the relationship between diseases and the economy of Africa? How can African nations bring stabilty to their countries? The final product will be a synthesis of research in order to prepare, with a team, a news report on current conditions in an African country or an issue facing the continent of Africa - i.e. desertification, AIDS, Child Soldiers, slavery, war, education, deforestation, wildlife, Women's issues.
Wright | To Top
Each morning, Major students are provided with their own copy of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Students are then divided into small groups where they are encouraged to discuss. The Summer of 2006, hot topics included:
- Politics
- Iraq
- Middle-East
- Oil prices
- World Soccer Cup
Major Only Course
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