T H E W E S T M I N S T E R S C H O O L S i n Alum - - Wednesday, March 25, 2015 Carlyle Fraser Library, Pressly Hall Sponsored by The Alumni Governing Board 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. | Registration and Carlyle Fraser Open-House 6:50 – 7:45 p.m. | Session One with President Keith Evans 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. | Session Two with Beloved Faculty Session One with President Keith Evans ~ 6:50-7:45 p.m. The Next Big Thing: What Futurists Predict is Around the Corner in Work, Technology, and Education The art and science of predicting the future has roots going back to the very earliest civilizations. Unlike the stargazers and fortune tellers of old, however, modern futurists have refined their methods in the face of accelerating change and volatility. How do they do it and what do they predict? In a whirlwind tour of the future, we will look at what they say about work, technology, and education and, more importantly, how they see around corners. We might even make a few predictions of our own. Session Two Classes ~ 8:00-9:00 p.m. (Choose One) 1776: Where Were You? The American Revolution: Outside Looking In Understanding the Faiths and Future of Conflictstricken Jerusalem Rick Byrd, Director of Studies and History Department Chair for the Upper School We will consider what was happening in North America in the year 1776. That is, what else was going on beside the Revolution? Where was it happening? Why was it happening? How was it related to the Revolution? We’ll use lots of maps, primary sources, and introduce the students to a wide variety of events far-far away from Philadelphia and Boston. In short, American history as you have never seen it. Dr. George Yacoubian, Retired Faculty Naïve consumers of news reports about and from Israel may be tempted to conclude that most - if not all - Muslims are radical extremists, Jews are excessively vindictive, and Christians are out for their own sectarian interests in the region. This course proposes to show that a balanced understanding of the worldviews of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam will go a long way in promoting the possibility of amicable coexistence as an alternative to the stereotypical thinking which perpetuates fear and hostility. This class will employ a brief video clip, lecture, and participatory discussion. Be IT: Supporting Innovative Teaching & Learning Through Technology Colleen Glaude, Dean of Instructional Technology, Jonathan Burrill, IT Operations Manager Team up with an IT Services staff member, or better yet, one of our certified student technicians and experience first-hand Westminster’s technology “behind the scenes.” This crash course will have you troubleshooting software issues, making hardware repairs, and learning more about what it takes to support the School’s 1-to-1 laptop and iPad program. From deployment, to upgrades, to maintenance, you’ll experience what it takes to support the innovative teaching and learning happening throughout our campus! Why Did the Holocaust Happen? Dave Drake ’61, Upper School Faculty Gain a deeper understanding of the events in Nazi Germany before and during World War II, and analyze the attitudes that allowed a group of people to inflict such a profound degree of damage on another. The course will focus on the origins of the attitudes that shaped the Nazi’s actions. A Look at All The King’s Men Frank Finsthwait, Upper School Faculty This class will be a study of the book, based primarily on discussion and collaborative investigation of Robert Penn Warren’s masterpiece. The Roman Empire and the Search for Meaning Joe Tribble, Upper School Faculty .…no bounded times or power, but empire without end. The Romans, masters of the whole round world, who, clad in peaceful toga, judge mankind. ~ Virgil The dark dawning of our modern day when we can neither endure our vices nor face the remedies needed to cure them. ~ Titus Livius After decisively defeating its great rival Carthage, Rome eventually extended its influence to three continents and could boldly call the Mediterranean “Our Sea,” Mare Nostrum; however, by the Second Century A.D., forces of disintegration became more and more dominant, rendering the Pax Romana no peace at all for Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Reflecting on his own life, as well as the world around him, a world Rome had done so much to bring about, the emperor could only write in his Meditations that everything was but “lifeless ashes and smoke.” Perhaps it was such a remark that prompted Livy’s fear that a dark day was dawning for the Empire. And yet for many among the Romans, the yearning for meaning persisted. P.G.B. Stillman points out that for those individuals still searching, “more help was necessary than Isis or Mithras or the Stoics could provide. The thirst for sure knowledge, unquestioning faith and confident expectation of future happiness remained unquenched as the much vaunted “reason” of the classical world had brought Roman citizens only economic collapse, political impotency, and moral depravity.” But it is here, adds Lewis Lord, that “Christianity, offering hope in a hopeless world, would take root, grow, and eventually flower.” There is great irony here, for like so many emperors before and after him, Marcus Aurelius viewed the Christians he so intensely persecuted only as a persistent “nuisance and nothing more” (M.I. Finley). This course will examine the remarkable Romans as they acquire such vast power while paradoxically losing their ability to see any meaning in the very life and times they had done so much to influence. Suggested Reading: Polybius, The Roman Constitution Sallust, The Conspiracy of Catiline Tacitus, The Germania Pliny the Younger, Letters Marcus Aurelius, Meditations Constantine, The Edict of Milan Augustine, Confessions Augustine, City of God Ernest and Trevor Dupuy, The Encyclopedia of Military History M.I. Finley, Aspects of Antiquity Lewis Lord, U.S. News and World Report, The Year One A.D., January 3, 2001 Vermont Royster, In Hoc Anno Domini Francis Schaeffer, How Should We Then Live? P.G.B. Stillman, Roman Rulers and Rebels Social Media: A Whole New World for Advertising and Marketing Jay Watts, Middle School Faculty and Assistant Director of Athletics Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, and other social media platforms are not just for verbal communication and sharing photographs between teenagers and young adults. They are marketing goldmines for innovative companies in the 21st century. This course will explain the myriad options available to companies in the social media space and the pros and cons of using each. We will also discuss how social media is being used for breaking news as well as financial data from world markets. Saint Patrick Didn’t Know What-in-the-Shamrock He Was Talking About Tim McCauley ’00, Upper School Faculty We all know the story: St. Patrick converts the ill-educated and ill-informed pagan Irish to Christianity by explaining the mystery of the Trinity with the help of a shamrock. The problem is, St. Patrick’s description is actually counter to Christian orthodox teaching and instead represents a heresy called Partialism which (among other things) the ecclesial councils of the fourth century sought to refute. The concept of the Trinity is central to Christian doctrine and it is common to almost every Christian denomination, but it is often taken for granted. In truth, for the first four hundred years of Christianity, it was the source for controversy, councils, and condemnation. Together, we will discover why dear ol’ St. Pat was wrong, who was right, and how (and if?!) we can really know. Early Film and Propaganda Colin Mackey ’87, Middle School Faculty Since it’s inception, film has been used as a means to manipulate the thoughts and the emotions of an audience. Never has the power of film been more evident than in the recent dilemma about the release of the film The Interview. Come explore some of the techniques of early filmmakers (in particular the Russians and Germans) and how they have influenced film in propaganda and popular culture. Deep Tracks, Volume 3: “B” Sides and Forgotten Rock n’ Roll Classics Scoot Dimon ’70, Assistant Headmaster Back by popular demand, rock and blues historian Scoot Dimon will reach deep into his vast collection and talk about 20 cuts that you have to have. Free CD with all 20 cuts for every attendee. Eat a Peach. Hiking the Camino De Santiago: 550 Miles Across Spain Jim Falcetti, Middle School Faculty The Camino De Santiago is a 500-mile hike from southwest France to Santiago, Spain. The ancient pilgrimage attracts travelers from around the world who make the 30-35 day hike across the cities, forests, and deserts of Spain. I will present information on attempting the hike, which I have completed twice, as well as historical information about the Camino. The information will range from the physical strain and equipment issues to the mental and spiritual demands. I will present anecdotes of the places and people encountered along the journey, and give attendees the steps needed to get started planning their journey. Music and the Movies: How Hollywood Tells You What to Feel Scott Stewart, Upper School Faculty Music for film occupies a unique position in the art world as being the only performed music which (some say) is not intended to be heard. Composer Bernard Herrmann once said that the cinema is “the art form that will define our culture for the people of the twenty-first century.” This one-hour seminar will explore the role of music in movies (and television and video games), surveying film music from the silent film era through the present. A brief discussion of the elements of music and the functions of music in media will be followed by discussions of several film clips and how music affects the viewing experience. How to Register: 1.) Review the course selections and rank your top three course offerings for the second session. All courses are on a first come, first served, basis. 2.) Visit: www.westminster.net/backtoschool to register and pay with a credit card online or call the Alumni Office at 404-609-6205 to register by phone. Guests: If you would like a guest to join you, please complete the guest information portion of the online form and pay $20 per guest. You may also register your guest by calling the Alumni Office at 404-609-6205. Cost: The cost of Back-to-School Night is $20 per participant. Please pay with a credit card when you register online at www.westminster.net/backtoschool or mail a check made out to The Westminster Schools. Please mail checks to the Alumni Office at 1424 West Paces Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30327 and reference Back-to-School Night. Course Assignments: All registrants will receive notification of course assignments prior to the event by email. If no email is provided, registrants will receive notification by phone. Parking: Please follow signs for designated event parking. To request a handicapped parking pass, please contact the Alumni Office at 404-609-6205. For More Information: Please contact the Alumni Office at 404-609-6205 or [email protected] with questions. To register online, please visit www.westminster.net/backtoschool Special Needs: Please contact the Alumni Office at 404-609-6205 or [email protected] to request a handicapped parking pass or to make special arrangements for you or a guest.