If an observer listened, eyes closed, to Caroline Azem, Khaled Almusa, and Kevin Kozik discuss and analyze Reconstruction they surely would assume the exercise happened somewhere on a college campus.
The insight – detailed, thoughtful, sometimes mocking of historical missteps by leaders -- shared among the three belied their youth. Azem, Almusa, and Kozik are juniors at Richards.
“Congress had this very specific idea of how they wanted in Reconstruction but then (President) Johnson --” Azem said.
Find out what's happening in Oak Lawnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“He was far more moderate,” Kozik said.
“Johnson was a lot more lenient toward the south, whereas Lincoln gave concessions to both sides,” Azem said.
Find out what's happening in Oak Lawnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“Johnson issued pardons to the richest Confederates so pretty much all that Lincoln and Congress had accomplished was wiped out. Sooner or later, the Confederate leaders who were in power during the war were back in office,” Almusa said.
Teacher Joyce Cruse designed the “jigsaw” seminar for her A.P. U.S. History classes. Cruse altered the typical jigsaw strategy to infuse elements of a Socratic seminar in which students serve as both teachers and learners.
It's simply amazing. Watch Caroline, Khaled, and Kevin go:
