Saturday, July 06th, 2013

Learning Lessons from Cambodia for a Better World

“Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.” – Oscar Wilde.Art is undoubtedly the most subtle way of understanding life, world and most importantly, the self. Art is the phenomenal tool that easily unearths the different layers of inhibitions that bind people and help in breaking down the shackles that restrict men on the basis of culture, religion, region… [Read Full Article]

Tuesday, July 02th, 2013

Experiential Learning: Vietnam in Southern California

Southern California Teachers: Want a nice complement to your inter-cultural studies? Vietnam War unit? Human Geography field work? Here’s a fun educational field trip destination with activities in Little Saigon, an established Vietnamese community easily accessible off the 405 freeway.Preparations needed: Bus transportation for students and chaperones: 3-5 hours during late morning to early afternoon. $10.00 for lunch, $5.00 for… [Read Full Article]

Friday, June 28th, 2013

The Vietnam syndrome

Regarding Iraq and Afghanistan, are we telling ourselves — and believing — the same false story we told in 1975?Former CIA operative Frank Snepp reflects on the military and strategic failures of the Vietnam War and how current U.S. policy is repeating those same mistakes in Iraq and Afghanistan today.Our work at Peace Works Travel is to take students on… [Read Full Article]

Monday, June 24th, 2013

The Dog Wore Black

A Teacher’s Rant on Current Events as Polite Conversation I’m lucky: as a teacher, I get to think and read and talk for a living. Talking about controversial things is one of the luxuries we enjoy in a democracy. I’ve been told it’s impolite – or worse, “bad for small business”-- to discuss current events about which reasonable minds can differ.… [Read Full Article]

Saturday, June 15th, 2013

The Case for Skipping Class

What do America’s schools have against travel?In Darien, Connecticut, the public high schools’ attendance policy warns: “Inexpensive airfares are not an excuse for extended student vacations.” Fairfax County, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C., also discourages absences for family trips, and at least one of the county’s high schools, Annandale, seems to have an outright travel ban. “Family trips and… [Read Full Article]