A Child's Journey Through Ellis Island 2 -- October 2, 2014

Exhibitors' Herald, 28-May-1921

Today I went to Saint Anthony-Immaculate Conception School in San Francisco and talked to my daughter's 5th grade about "A Child's Journey Through Ellis Island." They are participating in a DAR essay contest on the subject. I talked about the skills involved in writing a good essay and targeting it to your audience. I gave them background on US immigration history and nativist reaction to immigration. We talked about who they were travelling with, how they would get to Ellis Island and what would happen on the island. It was fun, and they asked good questions. After, I was very tired.   When I got home, I had to work on a production problem. 

Alice Brady was the daughter of theatrical impresario (great word) William A Brady.  She was a popular actress in silent and sound films.  She played Carole Lombard's mother in My Man Godfrey.  In the lost film The Land of Hope, she played a Russian immigrant who arrived at Ellis Island. 

A Child's Journey Through Ellis Island -- September 20, 2014

Exhibitors' Herald, 28-May-1921

Today I went to Good Shepherd School in Pacifica and talked to grades 6-7-8 about "A Child's Journey Through Ellis Island." They are participating in a DAR essay contest on the subject. I talked about the skills involved in writing a good essay and targeting it to your audience. I gave them background on US immigration history and nativist reaction to immigration. We talked about who they were getting, how they would get to Ellis Island and what would happen on the island.   It was fun, and they asked good questions.  After, I was very tired. 

Alice Brady was the daughter of theatrical impresario (great word) William A Brady.  She was a popular actress in silent and sound films.  She played Carole Lombard's mother in My Man Godfrey.  In the lost film The Land of Hope, she played a Russian immigrant who arrived at Ellis Island. 

Children During the American Revolution -- September 12, 2013

Today I went to Good Shepherd School in Pacifica and talked to grades 6-7-8 about Children's Lives During the American Revolution. They are participating in a DAR essay contest on the subject. I talked about how they will be writing a lot of essays in junior high, high school and college, so it important to practice certain skills:
Analyze.  Study the topic/question.  Make sure you understand the words.  Looking up the words you know and use every day might give you an idea of what to write about.  I asked if anyone there was a child.  Then we discussed the definition of "child."
Angle.  I said the person who reads the essay for the DAR might have to read hundreds.  How can you make yours stand out?  Look for a unique angle.
A___.  I said I'd fill that one in later.  After I finished, I said it was "Amuse."  If someone has to read hundreds of essays, they'll remember yours if you find a good story or anecdote to tell.

It was fun, but I am tired. 

Unsung Heroes -- September 11, 2012

Today I went to Good Shepherd School in Pacifica and talked to grades 6-7-8 about unsung heroes of the Revolutionary War. They are participating in a DAR essay contest on the subject. They had trouble with the idea of an unsung hero.  I asked if there was such a thing as a sung hero.  I told them how cultures used to make songs about their great heroes.  I mentioned Gilgamesh, the Iliad and the Odyssey, the Aeneid, Beowulf and the sagas.  I talked about different groups and people from each group who are not famous.  One example was Joseph Louis Cook, Akiatonharónkwen, a man of mixed African and Mohawk descent, who led the Oneidas on the side of the Patriots. The sketch "Colonel Louis of the Oneidas" is by John Trumbull. This was the fourth year I have talked to the 8th graders.  I enjoyed the experience, but I'm very tired. 

DW Griffith's America -- May 19, 2012

I went to the Hyatt Garden Hotel in Foster City to speak to the Daughters of the American Revolution.  After lunch, I talked about DW Griffith, his movie America and the poor performance of movies about the Revolution.  I had fun.  Some of them had opinions about why they don't make many movies about the Revolution and why many of them do poorly at the box office. 

War of 1812 -- September 15, 2011

Today I went to Good Shepherd School in Pacifica and talked to grades 5-8 in three periods (5 and 7 were together) about the War of 1812. They are participating in a DAR essay contest on the subject. They asked good questions. One kid wanted to know why countries go to war. I told her that is a very important question. I made sure they all learned and understood the phrase status quo ante bellum. It should be a hit in the essays.

I took the photo on 05-October-2008.

Cable Car Barn -- September 14, 2011

I talked to a group of 6 to 12 year olds from Brightworks School (http://sfbrightworks.org/) about cable cars after a walk around the cable car barn. It was too loud to talk inside. We took a walk up to Huntington Square so they could eat lunch and I could talk a bit and then answer questions. They enjoyed the noon bells at Grace Cathedral. They had some good questions like "What is the difference between a cable car and a bus?" and some interesting questions like "Has a cable car ever had a toilet?"

Their favorite part: a crew was shoveling muck out of the sheave room and a crane on the street was pulling it up in barrels. I had a very good time.

Today I took the shot of car 3 on the Powell-Hyde line, crossing Mason at Jackson.

Transcontinental Railroad -- March 20, 2010

Today I went to Pete's Harbor on Smith Slough in Redwood City to speak to the Daughters of the American Revolution at the Waterfront Restaurant. Last year the Fifth Grade teacher at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica had her students participate in an essay contest sponsored by the DAR. She asked me to come and talk to the class. One of her students won, although I don't think I had anything to do with it, and the DAR honored her at a luncheon. She read her essay, and then I talked about the building of the transcontinental railroads. There was a very good question about why Warren Buffett wanted to buy BNSF. It was fun.

Today is also the first day of Spring.