Those Who Do Not Learn...

Good Afternoon Folks,

One of my favorite teachers of all time was my US History teacher in high school.  His name was Mr. Hulburd.  I had him my junior year (11th) grade of high school, and I oft remember him saying, "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."  This quote was not his own.  It can be attributed to a few different historical figures - Winston Churchill, a British Prime Minister, George Santayana, a Spanish-American poet, and Irish statesman Edmund Burk- to name a few.  They all can lay claim to some form of this same sentiment.  

When my history teacher in 11th grade said it, he was encouraging us to learn, but I think he was also warning us to not become complacent - to always keep learning no matter how far removed we were from his classroom.  I was in 11th grade almost 30 years ago, but I reflect on this sentiment often.  I was thinking about it yesterday as I watched the terrible events unfold in our nation's capital.  I just kept thinking to myself, had the people storming the capital been more aware of our history, of how our government works, and the rules of our US Constitution, all this could have been avoided.  I saw an angry mob of people who were fed disinformation, lies, and conspiracy theory, and because they didn't have the necessary knowledge to make logical and thoughtful decisions, things turned violent.

No matter your political affiliations, I hope that your actions, as you grow older, will be based on educated ideas and thoughtful principles.  This is why I bring up the Churchill quote today.  "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."  I hope that we never have to see a repeat of what took place in our capital yesterday ever again. You are all are part of a generation of change-makers and you (and millions of youth like you) are willing to stand up and be heard when there is a cause worth fighting for.  I hope that in standing up for your beliefs you remember that peaceful protest, respectful discourse, and a shared ideal that treating others like you want to be treated, are the only ways we will move our country forward to a more peaceful and harmonious union.  

If you have questions about our political process, our Constitution, or just want to talk about how these events affect you or your family, please feel free to come chat.  Connecting with your social studies teacher is a great idea too!  How else can you move forward?  Dedication yourself to learning!  Learning opens doors.  Learning creates opportunities.  Learning brings understanding, and learning stokes our creativity and our passions.  I hope you never stop learning!  

Enjoy the remainder of your day, and please see me if you need to connect.  

Be Well,

Mrs. Hempey


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month - Resources For You

Image
If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call  The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  at 800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately. From the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) :     September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month—a time to share resources and  stories  in an effort to shed light on this highly taboo and stigmatized topic. We use this month to reach out to those affected by suicide, raise awareness, and connect individuals with suicidal ideation to treatment services. It is also important to ensure that individuals, friends, and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention.  Here are your local resources for suicide prevention :   Who can you connect with at CBMS for help ?   Mrs. Hempey, School Counselor - 802-583-8071 or jhempey@huusd.org or just come to my office!   Mr. Estes, Vice Principal - joshestes@huusd.org Hillary, Dean of Students...
Read more

We Miss You!

Image
The Crossett Brook Staff wishes to cheer your spirits on this rainy Monday morning!  Enjoy these messages from all of us to you! Remember, we put out lots of information about supporting you through all of this, you know reminding you how to keep a positive frame of mind - look on the bright side - all of that, but it's okay to feel sad too...   Sadness is part of the human experience, so when it comes, let yourself experience it, and when it moves past, use a strategy to get your brave back on.   Be well today Cougars!   Mrs. Hempey
Read more

Lived Experience

Good Morning Everyone, Today I'd like to continue addressing social justice and antiracism from my blog. What is antiracism you ask? Well, let me explain what I have come to understand.  Antiracism is when we actively take a stance against racial injustice.  It is fighting for equality.  It is going beyond just thoughts and feelings and taking action.  That action can come in many forms.  It can be in the form of educating your self or others, peaceful protest, monetary support for organizations like Black Lives Matter or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), or it can be about simply lending your voice to someone in need.   Some people would argue that topics such as these are wading into the water of politics and taking sides and that we shouldn't be talking about them in school or with young kids.  My response is that I don't care what political side people are on.  This is a human rights issue!  It's...
Read more