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Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2005 > August > 14 > Entry
The lessons of history
Down in the basement, I was filling the washing machine when my six-year-old, Claire, popped in carrying a $10 bill that had been laying out on the counter for use later that day.
“Dad, who is this?” she asked, pointing to the portrait in the center. “Was he a president?”
The history buff in me loves these moments.
“No, that’s Alexander Hamilton,” I said, pulling clothes from the dryer. “He is one of the few people on our money who was not president. He was a brilliant man who helped America get started. Alexander Hamilton helped the president figure out how banks and money would work in a way that would be more free than in other countries.”
“Did he live a long time ago?” she asked, pulling her favorite sun dress off the clean pile.
“Yes, he lived about 200 years ago, back when America was born.”
“How did he die? Did he die of old age?” This is a question I’m getting a lot since her great grandmother died earlier this year.
“Uh, no. He actually died in a duel.”
“What’s a duel?”
“Well, it was sort of a crazy way people settled arguments long ago. They would both take a gun and stand back-to-back,” I said, stepping closer, making a gun out of the fingers of her free hand and mimicking the dueling posture. “Then they’d both take ten steps, turn and shoot.”
She giggled as we took the steps, spun and fired our finger pistols.
“Sometimes they would both miss, and the argument would be over. Or one person might be hit and hurt, so the other guy would win the argument. But sometimes, one or both of them would actually get killed.
“That’s what happened to Alexander Hamilton. He got into an argument with Aaron Burr, another very smart man who also helped the president. They had a duel and Burr shot Hamilton and he died.”
Claire flung the dress over her shoulder and rubbed her thick blond hair with her hand.
“Was the president mad?” she asked.
“Yes I think so. Lots of people were angry that such a smart and important man died for such a dumb reason. I think it helped people realize how terrible duels were, and its probably part of the reason people don’t have duels today.”
She looked at me for a moment. Then she asked another question:
“Why do we still have wars, then? They’re even more terrible because lots of people die in wars. Why didn’t people learn not to have wars?”
I stared back at her.
“I don’t know, Claire. That’s a good question.”
“Maybe when me and all the other kids grow up, we’ll learn not to have wars.”
“I hope so, Claire. I hope so.”
UPDATE: This is my entry to win a camera in the “Capture the Educational Moment” Contest sponsored by Spunky and Academic Superstore.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: My Favorite Posts, Teaching and Learning
Comments
By rider in the back
August 15, 2005 4:30 PM | Link to this
That’s a great story the demonstrates the wisdom of childern before they acquire the prejudices and ignorance of adulthood.By Terri
August 15, 2005 3:41 PM | Link to this
I anticipated that your story would lead to the local news of young people shooting each other in the streets. Hopefully when Claire and her peers are older that violence will also be a thing of the past.By kay
August 15, 2005 2:39 PM | Link to this
Thanks for sharing the father-daughter moment you turned into a learning experience for Claire and an opportunity for us all to reflect on how we go about solving conflicts.