Susan,
I think this is a key question. I suspect that whatever answer you find
that works is also how we should be explaining the ethical problem to
everyone; not in order to talk down to people, but in order to be clear.
That said, I am not sure how best to explain it to them. An explanation of
how historians and archaeologists learn seems essential. I am also thinking
that a short discussion on shared heritage (although in more familiar
terms) would be helpful. The students can make analogies to their own home
lives and what items tell things about them that are different from that of
their classmates. Even if you do not have a culturally diverse group, all
families do some things different and some things the same. Then ask them
to think about having someone take that part of their story away so that
the other students can't learn about it. I am just brainstorming here.
Let us know what you try, what works, and what doesn't!
Kristen Baldwin Deathridge
On Fri, May 11, 2012 at 4:12 PM, Susan Walter <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> IF you all, like me, were trying to explain this ethical problem to a
> bunch of 10 to 15 year olds, what would YOU say?
>
> I have a lot of impoverished students here, and money is a constant issue.
> My summer classes begins in a couple weeks.
>
> S. Walter
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harding Polk" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2012 4:02 PM
>
> Subject: American Diggers again (oh no, not again!)
>
>
> Well they've done it again. AOL/HufffingtonPost posted another article on
> American Diggers (see below). Arrrgh!
> On the latest episode of “_American Digger_
> (http://www.aoltv.com/show/**american-digger/9057067<http://www.aoltv.com/show/american-digger/9057067>)
> " (Wed., 10 p.m. ET on Spike), Ric Savage and his crew
> headed to Jamestown, Va., in search of colonial relics. But perhaps more
> exciting than America’s origins was Ric Savage himself!
>
> Savage stopped by the TVReplay studio to chat about his trip and the
> amazing discovery he and the American Savage crew made: a British cannon
> from
> the 1700s.
>
> After a freezing-cold dive, crew member Rue discovered it at the bottom of
> a lake. The cannon, combined with a glass onion bottle and a grenade
> fragment, got Ric a whopping $10,000. He called the weapon one of the most
> important finds in his company’s history.
>
> Watch our interview with Ric above – we talk British accents (he even did
> one) and, of course, his “Boom Baby!” catchphrase. Indeed, Ric belted his
> signature catchphrase for us – a priceless find in itself.
>
> “American Digger” airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on Spike.
>
> Interesting they don't mention what lake, I'm suspecting maybe Lake
> Champlain because of the cold and British references.
> More curious is that he is heading to Jamestown VA. Now I know that the
> entire Jamestown Island is owned by NPS, except for a ca. 10 acre parcel
> owned by the Assoc. for Pres. of VA Antiquities where Jamestown Discovery
> has
> been excavating the original fort for the past 10 years plus. Adjacent on
> the mainland is Jamestown Fort operated by the Jamestown/Yorktown
> Foundation. I don't think any of them is interested in Ric Savage coming
> to savage
> their properties. Is he going to work offshore in the James River (like
> Joel Shiner did in the 1950s) and thumb his nose at NPS and APVA? Even in
> the river I'm sure he needs a state permit. There is a little private
> land
> on the adjacent mainland.
>
> Its unfortunate that they are getting continued national press, but I
> suppose it is to be expected when they continue to find such "important"
> artifacts (read: most $ for any one artifact). One wonders what the
> disposition
> and, more importantly, its condition is now that it is out of its mostly
> stabilized underwater environment. I'm sure as we sit here and read, it
> is
> popping, fizzing, flaking, and exfoliating as the oxidation process
> (rusting) has been so suddenly accelerated.
>
> My rant for today.
>
> Harding Polk II
>
>
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