Thomas Jefferson- President, Statesman, Author

 Thomas Jefferson was an American renaissance man. A wealthy Virginia landowner, Jefferson was a seminal figure in colonial American politics. The author of the Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States was an avid reader and inventor. As a graduate of the College of William and Mary and a founder of the University of Virginia, Jefferson understood the value of education in sowing the seeds of success in the fledgling American democracy. He possessed the largest private library in the colonies and sold his book collection to the federal government to establish the Library of Congress.

 

Jefferson was the first president to truly be an author in the literary sense. His writing career went from being a pamphleteer, penning Summary View and Causes and Necessities of Taking up Arms to the writing the Declaration of Independence. In these initial works, Jefferson identifies his grievances against the British Crown, especially King George II.

 

His first complete book, Notes on the State of Virginia, written in 1781, is often regarded as the most important book written in the colonies prior to 1800. There are many facets to this work, which was originally published in Paris. On the one hand, it is a travelogue and atlas of the Virginia colony providing readers with information about the topography of the land, its agricultural products and natural resources, as well as the colony’s inhabitants. But Jefferson decides to use the text to delve into several serious issues- religious freedom and slavery. While he was a slave owner whose men and women toiled at Monticello, Jefferson’s narrative tells a different story. In fact he was concerned that his anti-slavery comments would not sit well with his fellow Virginian landowners. He wrote that he foresaw the possibility of a race war in the newly created United States of America.

 

An article appeared in a Virginia newspaper in 1787, heralding the publication of  book written by His Excellency Thomas Jefferson. It noted: The work will be comprised in a handsome octavo volume, with an elegant type, and good paper, and delivered to the subscribers neatly bound and lettered at the very moderate rate of one dollar.”

 For more information about the writings of US Presidents visit web site www.presidentspen.com.

Answers to Presidential Trivia

Here are the Answers to last week's Presidential Trivia

1) Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump
2) five- John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy
3) Theodore Roosevelt
4) Woodrow Wilson ( degree from Johns Hopkins University )
5) Twelve Presidents did not attain college degrees including George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
6) Four- Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson , Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama
7) Jimmy Carter was the only Naval Academy graduate.
8) Thomas Jefferson
9) John F. Kennedy - Profiles in Courage
10) Barack Obama


How many did  you get correct?

Presidential Trivia

In researching material for my upcoming book, The Presidential Literary Circle,  I came across a number of fun facts about US presidents that I would like to share with our readers. See if you can answer these questions.
1) Which two Presidents have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
2) How many Presidents attended Harvard University for their undergraduate college?
3) Which US President has written the most books?
4) Who is the only President to have earned a Ph.d?
5) How many Presidents did not have college degrees?
6) How many Presidents were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?
7) Who is the only President that is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy?
8) Which President published his first book anonymously in Paris?
9) Who is the only President whose book earned the Pulitzer Prize?
10) Which former president has received the largest has advance for his memoirs?

Good Luck.- answers next time

John F. Kennedy and Immigration

Prior to his assassination, President John F. Kennedy was in the process of writing a book that was to be titled " A Nation of Immigrants." In this manuscript, Kennedy wrote of the great contributions that many of the immigrant groups made when they came to America. He wrote the efforts of the Irish, the Italians and other ethnic group that arrived in the US between 1880 and 1924 when the immigration laws in this country changed. The last two chapters of the book was devoted to arguments that Kennedy hoped to be able to use to persuade Congress to change the outdated immigration laws. Tragically, Kennedy was gunned down in Dallas on November 22,1963 before completing the work. The book was ultimately published in 1964 with the introduction written by Abraham Foxman, then executive director of of the AntiDefamation League ( ADL). Kennedy had written articles on the topic of immigration for the ADL's magazine when he was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and had also given an important speech when we was honored by the organization. In 1965 Congress did pass an Immigration and Naturalization Act which was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. Kennedy's book is as relevant  now as it was then. A new edition was just released in 2018 with a new introduction by the current executive director of the ADL, which now holds the copyright to the book.
For more information about Presidential literature - books written by US Presidents, be sure to look for my upcoming book " The Presidents' Literary Circle."

A Thought for Presidents Day

Books Written By US Presidents

There have been over 150 books written by Presidents of the United States either before, during or after their terms in office. Only one such book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and that is Profiles in Courage , written by John F. Kennedy. Kennedy wrote this book while he was a junior United States Senator from Massachusetts. He examines the lives of eight of his predecessors in Congress that took courageous stands against the politics of the day, whether it be the Civil War or the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. Interestedly enough, the first senator  that Kennedy wrote about was John Quincy Adams, who was his predecessor as a Senator from Massachusetts.
Profiles in Courage went on to become a best seller and has been re-issued several times.
 A 26 week television series based on the book was produced in 1965. Kennedy wrote several other books including Why England Slept and A Nation of Immigrants, but Profiles is the best known.

Our Apologies

Our Apologies

Dear readers-

Drew to some technical difficulties, we have not been able to post for several months. Hopefully we will be able to get back on track shortly. We know that  we missed the beginning of school and that some of our readers had disruptions caused by Hurricane Michael. For those readers who are  in college, I assume that you are either preparing for mid-terms or have just completed them. For all students and educators throughout the United States , I encourage you to get out and vote next week. Your vote counts!

Summer Educational Travels

My wife and I have been traveling a great deal this summer to visit museums long on our “bucket list” as well as museums that just pop-up during our travels. One thing that has been reassuring to us was the fact that we saw many families- parents taking their children on learning adventures. Washington DC was a busy and vibrant city. With many school trips over for the year, families and summer campers filled the museums. Many of Washington’s museums are free- The Smithsonian, The Library of Congress, National Portrait Gallery as well as the Capitol Building and the Supreme Court.

Our visits to other places found us the sole visitors and thus had “private tours’ of houses and museums. We discovered that not every museum is worth seeing and that others have high priced admissions. You have to do your homework. While you are researching, be sure to look for coupons on-line and other discounts. For example, The Aircraft Carrier Intrepid Museum in New York City is free for active military and veterans but you must bring identification. There are also substantial admission discounts at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, but again, ID is required. Another caveat- many museums throughout the US are closed on Monday’s, so plan accordingly.

For some students, the new school year begins in two weeks. For others, there is still a month of vacation remaining. Hopefully there is still time to learn about our history and culture. Visit a museum soon.

c. 2018 J. Margolis

Two States Pass Laws for Mental Health Education

The states of New York and Virginia have become the first two states to pass laws that will require mental health education in schools.

The legislation in New York states will mandate an update to current curriculum in elementary, middle and high schools.  The Virginia law will require that meal health education be integrated into the current health and phys. Ed curriculum for students I the 9^th and 10^th grades.

With the rapid increase in teen depression and suicide as well as the current opioid addiction crisis, it would seem timely (or overdue) that someone would take the initiative. According to a recent CNN article “ suicide is the second leading cause of death among people between the ages of 15 and 24.

If your state has not established an initiate to deal with the epidemic, please contact school and government officials where you live and make the critical points that would help decision makers to at least establish a dialogue and to craft policies and legislation to deal with this crisis.

c. 2018 J. Margolis

Visit America’s Museums

Now that it is (just about) officially summer, many teachers and families will be headed for their summer vacations. While many will be seeking relaxation at the beach, the lake or in the mountains, families should take the time to visit the vast number of museums spread across America. Having just returned from 2000-mile driving trip through a number of Southern states, I would like to make a number of recommendations.

Tallahassee, Florida- The State Museum. Here is an opportunity to learn about the history of Florid dating back to the Spanish conquistadors and how Florida was and is a multicultural state.

Pensacola, Florida- National Naval Aviation Museum. This is probably one of the best museums I have ever visited. Acres of planes, blimps, helicopters and other memorabilia are there to explore. Sit in a cockpit. Opportunities to get into a flight simulator or see an Imax film are also available. This is also the home of the Blue Angels and visitors can attend practice flights several times a week. Admission to the museum as well as parking is free. (Navalaviationmuseum.org)

New Orleans, Louisiana- The National World War Two Museum is a must see. Originally built to honor D- Day, visitors to this museum can trace the progression of WW II I both the European and Pacific theatres. Artifacts and soldiers’ stories abound. Don’t miss the café for lunch. Be sure to see the Tom’s Hank’s narrated film “Beyond All Boundaries”(nationalww2museum.org)

Montgomery, Alabama- Two new museums in Montgomery this past spring.

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is a somber tribute to those African- Americans who were the victims of lynching in the South. Note that this memorial is outdoors and it gets quite hot in the summer and sometimes rainy. Still find a way to see and learn abut tis tragic page in American history.

The other museum is the Legacy Museum- From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration is located in a warehouse that at one time housed slaves waiting to be auctioned.

The museum traces the African- American experience in the United States from Slavery to the civil rights movement to current issues of race in America.(eji.org)

During your travels if you come to state capitol be sure to stop in for a tour and learn how governments works!

Safe travels and have a great summer.

C.2018 J. Margolis

US News Annual Rankings Announced

U.S. News and World Report recently reported the results of its annual rankings of America’s high school. The magazine partners with the research firm RTI international to evaluate over 20,000 high schools. The criteria they utilize include Advanced Placement programs, International Baccalaureate program scores, performance on state standardized tests, graduation rates and low-income student performance. Massachusetts scored highest in college readiness and had the highest percentage of nationally ranked schools. The states of California and Maryland also scored well. As with all quantitative information, what do you do with it?

Some states can pat themselves on the back; other must face the fact that there is room for improvement. Several of the states where there have been recent teacher demonstrations are not on the top of the list. The US News survey also ranked the STEM and the best charter schools. For more information you can access the full report at www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools.

c.2018 J. Margolis

Teacher Appreciation Week

The week of May 7, 2018 has been designated Teacher Appreciation Week. It is traditionally the first full week in May and has been created to pay tribute to the work of teachers as an important cog in the fabric of American society. Teaching, after all, is the career that prepares students for all other careers. This year has been a very trying one for America’s teachers. In West Virginia, Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma and elsewhere, teachers have been protesting for not only long overdue increase in salary, but for funds to be allocated to improve school building infrastructure and to purchase updated books and materials.

For teachers at the Marjorie Stoneman Douglass High School in Parkland, Florida, it had to deal with the aftermath of an unspeakable tragedy, a lone gunman opening fire with an automatic weapon on the defenseless student body.

While it might be nice to make a card or bring snacks to school to show appreciation, there are more significant things to do. Teachers often purchase needed supplies and pay for them out of their own pockets. Parents and students can purchase the supplies for the school.  Groups can initiate “Gofundme” campaigns for supplies, books, field trips and such. Parent and community groups can attend school board meetings and advocate on behalf of the teachers so that they have the supplies they need to be successful educators and work in an environment that is safe for all students, teachers and administrators.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

C.2018 J. Margolis