Book Review: "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah

 It has been about twenty years since I first read this book. I remember picking it up at a Starbucks and reading it during my first year of substitute teaching. It was intriguing and eye opening twenty years ago and now the last couple years I saw students reading it as a choice book in one of their English classes a few years ago I felt it was worth reading it again.

Once again I enjoyed reading the book, while also feeling sadness for the experiences. The book is a nonfiction account by the author, Ishmael Beah, who grew up in Sierra Leone at the start of a Civil War that took place in his country. After his village was attacked and he spent months running through the jungle of west Africa for safety he was finally recruited by the army to become a child soldier. Through his stories of training, war and drug addiction you get a view of life for child soldiers. As a teacher (and from the view of a student) it is alarming to think he was the age of an eighth grader or freshman when forced into the war. Considering this is the age of students I work with (and the age of students who may read this book) it gives a lot to reflect on, even if we can't identify with the events that take place.

Thankfully the book continues after Ishmael is removed from the war and goes through rehabilitation where the reader is able to identify the challenges of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that he has to struggle with while trying to reenter society  Ishmael is able to connect with some family before fleeing the country as a refugee. I appreciated the fact that the book wasn't just a collection of war stories, so you could actually see how Ishmael was affected and changed from his life before, during and after the war.

My final reflection is a good reminder that while these events took place in the early 1990's (I was often thinking of my life in middle school while the author, only three years older than I was fighting for his life in this war), this is a historical event. Last year (2024) we had an exchange student from Sierra Leone at MHS. While he shared stories of his home country with peers at the school, and presented in my geography class, he had very little to say about the history of the Civil War. But he had a lot of pictures and stories of how wonderful the country is today and why we should consider visiting. This was a good reminder that this story, along with many books that are read in the Global Scholars Program may provide good insight into a specific place and a specific time, but we cannot assume that the experience we read is representative of the current day.  Keeping the historical time frame in mind is important so it can help us understand different places historically and today. While the plight of child soldiers may be over in Sierra Leone, it is still active in over 15 countries today which provides another thought for consideration and learning while reading this book.

Ishmael Beah has continued to write and is a spokesperson for UNICEF advocating for children in conflict areas around the world. Below is a brief video from the UNICEF website about Ishmael's story and what he is doing today.

Book Review - Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories for the Guatemalan Genocide

 Reading a graphic novel was new for me, not just for the global scholars program but also in general.  As our high school library is working to diversify its collection, a new book was presented to me as an option for the Global Scholars program so I had to take a look at it. 

Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories from the Guatemalan Genocide was a very quick read (as I think many graphic novels are). Written by Pablo Leon, a Guatemalan author and illustrator, the book focuses on the historical memory of a Guatemalan immigrant. In this story, a mother is living in the United States with two teenage boys.  She has silently carried around the trauma of surviving a genocide in Guatemala and finally opens up to her two sons after the former President of Guatemala is found guilty, and then the verdict reversed in regards to genocide charges.  The story highlights the mother’s memories and then the attempt by her sons to try and relocate her sister who was separated from her during the genocide.

Once again this was a very fast read geared toward younger readers (middle school/freshman).  It did not necessarily have the depth I enjoy for global scholar books but it also highlights a historical event that many students are not familiar with and can be a catalyst for future investigations and learning. For this reason I think it would be a good book to check out to start building that background knowledge on recent history in Guatemala and Central America.

Book Review: A Family of Brigands in 1793

 A Family of Brigands in 1793 by Marie de Sainte-Hermine is a nonfiction story of an Aristocratic Family during the French Revolution.  It is a book I never anticipated reading but after having a family member recommend it to me, I felt compelled to check it out. The story was definitely interesting and offered a different perspective than what I learned about in regards to the French Revolution.  Although I never had to teach the French Revolution in class, I have always learned how the French Revolution was extending those democratic ideals that were established in the United States after the American Revolution.  This means, if Democracy was expanding then the French Revolution was obviously a good thing, despite the bloodshed and the usage of a new tool of death, the guillotine.  This story offers a different perspective that was fascinating to learn about.

The first item to note is the term "Brigands."  According to dictionary.com, a brigan is a member of a gang that ambushes or robs people in the mountains or the forest.  This is an interesting term for the family story in the book because they are constantly talking about how well they treat others, care for their servants and how holy and religious they are. I also refer to the book as nonfiction because it was brought to publication by a priest who had a written account of a woman's story, Marie de Sainte-Hermine (family was friends with the priest), who had given permission to publish the story to pass on to the family.  Once the priest's friend passed away, permission was given to publish the story publically.

The story focuses on the family's experience in the Vendean War of 1793. The family was a very strong devout Catholic family that was responding to the French Revolution and the killing of the Royal Family.  It is important to note, the French Monarchy was supported by the Catholic Church and Catholicism was the national religion.  Protestantism was viewed very negatively by the Monarchy and supporters of the Royal Family.  (My own family was forced out of France in the 1500s because they were not Catholic.) It was interesting to read about the views of a Catholic family who was appalled by the murder of the King and Queen, their attempts to save the Kind and Queen from the guillotine and their view on French philosophers such as Voltaire.  Voltaire is one philosopher that we often mention as a great thinker for Democracy by influencing the founders of our nation with ideas of free speech and freedom of religion. However, from the perspective of the French Monarchy and these devout Catholic families, freedom of religion was a corrupting force that weakened the French Government and weakened the influence of Catholic teachings and culture within France.  A good reminder that perspective is everything in understanding people's views and historical events.

While the Sainte-Hermine family was given the name Brigands, and were participants in the Vendean War, they are viewed as enemies of the French Revolution which ultimately would be enemies of Democracy.  As an American I would write that off as the "bad guys", but it was fascinating to read about how their Catholic teachings influenced their treatment of prisoners. While this family wanted to seek revenge for killed loved ones, or religious symbols being desecrated, other members of the family (who won out) would encourage forgiveness, better treatment of prisoners and often give prisoners their freedom because they were defenseless at the time, and murder, torture or revenge would be sinful.  They were more concerned about having the souls of their family than saving their lives.  This conflict in the middle of a war and uprising was fascinating to follow and definitely gave me a different perspective of events and the history of France.

As for a recommendation, I think this is a great book to give another perspective.  It is a good, first hand account of an aristocratic family during the French Revolution (Although I think it is worth noting, while this family talks about how well they treated prisoners and their servants, this fair treatment may not have been common by all aristocrats in France.  This is still only one family). If you enjoy history, learning about military history, religion or a blend of social history along with military conflict, this could definitely be a book for you.  Understanding the culture of the family, there are definitely references to Catholic teachings and vocabulary that non Catholics may struggle with, but it also provides an opportunity for learning.

Where are they now? Former Global Scholar Student - Michael Rinaldi

 I often hear from prospective students, how will the Global Certificate program help them?  Of course I have my quick responses; opportunity for a scholarship, recognition on transcripts, recognition at graduation and recognition from Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction, but I also have had discussions with plenty of people who suggest finding students years after graduating high school and finding out if they are successful.  That is a tool they would like to use to measure the success of schools.  Well I wanted to use that tool to measure the success of the Global Scholars program and Global Education provided at Mukwonago High School.  So I have started tracking down former Global Scholar graduates and students who had a strong global focus while attending MHS.  I plan on highlighting the responses I receive from these Mukwonago Alumni and graduates of the Global Scholars Program.  

Our first highlighted student was a graduate from 2018.  Michael Rinaldi was among a group of four students who graduated with the Global Certificate in 2018.  Below are a few questions I sent his way along with his response.

Michael Rinaldi outside the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain

What is a memory you have of the global scholar program or a global learning experience at MHS?

One of my fondest memories of the global scholar program was when I took a look at the list you gave me of the qualified books. I was a fiction-dominated reader, so I never read many books that gave me a perspective on life much different than my own. Then, I read I Am Malala. I was struck by the reality of the outside world, and all of the suffering people take on to get the same rights I have at home. It helped me to understand and be grateful for what I have. I still hold onto that book today and have shared it with many people since.

What global experiences have you had after high school?
 I have been fortunate to go on more trips after high school. In college, I signed up twice for a German Art History class that took a trip during winter break to see the art in person that we studied in Germany. On the second time, I chaperoned and made sure other people got to enjoy the trip as much as I did. I also went to Spain to visit my wife who was studying there at the time. I hope everyone gets the opportunity to travel at least once.

Has being a global scholar helped you after high school, and if so, how?
I would argue that being a Global Scholar helped me more than some of the actual technical classes I had. At work, its obvious that my global scholar certificate has given me an advantage. With more diversity experience and world experiences, I felt like that I was able to offer a broader perspective that helped me give better advice on key global product decisions. It also helped me work with engineers with different backgrounds in a world that is getting smaller and smaller and more international by the day.

Michael and Megan (Bartz) Rinaldi in Santorini, Greece

Global Scholar student reports back to Rotary Club

 

The Rotary Club of Mukwonago continues to be a large supporter of our Global Scholars program and invited Global Scholar student Susie Martin to be a guest speaker at their meeting this past week.  Susie was a recipient of a World Affairs Scholarship from the Mukwonago Rotary, and they asked her to share her experience with them.  

From left to right:
Mr. Montanye, Mr. McNaulty, Susie Martin & Susie's parents.

The World Affairs Seminar is an annual event that takes place at Carroll University in Waukesha.  The seminar focuses on educating young people on global issues and encouraging global activism and peace.  This past year the focus was on "Democracy and Governing."  Susie shared her interest in global issues and her goal of being a global activist or immigration attorney.  One of the stories Susie shared from the event was about an Afghan national who spoke about her role as an advisor for NATO in Afghanistan before the Taliban regained control in 2020.  The speaker discussed the challenges of building a democracy in Afghanistan, considering its complex history and tribal groups and ultimately what she viewed as a failed opportunity to build Afghanistan into a democratic state.

A second highlight for many Global Scholar students is the opportunity to meet students from all over the World.  Susie touched on this when she talked about a friend she made that she made at the World Affairs Seminar.  Her new friend is from Nigeria and they exchanged stories about life in the USA compared to Nigeria. Her friend shared the challenges of attending schools in Nigeria, which often become corrupt, forcing her to spread her education out across different schools.  Susie and her still keep in touch through social media still today, months after the event.

The Rotary Club continues to be a strong supporter by sending students to the World Affairs Seminar every summer and funding a scholarship for graduating global scholars to attend college after high school.  We appreciate their support, and it's wonderful to hear how their contributions to the World Affairs Seminar give our students broader global perspective and connect them with peers and speakers from around the world.

If students are interested in attending the World Affairs Seminar, they should contact their guidance counselor, global mentor or Mr. Montanye.  Generally, we send students who have finished their junior year and are in the global scholars program, but exceptions can be made based on interest and scholarship availability.  The theme for 2025 is "Peacebuilding: Creating Lasting Change."

Peace Corps Guest Speaker: Phoebe Crowe

 The Global Scholars program hosted Guest Speaker Phoebe Crowe on December 13th.  Phoebe is our first guest speaker who is actually a Mukwonago alumni.  While she is not a graduate of the Global Scholars program she seems she could be an honorary Global Scholar, we simply did not have the program yet when she graduated Mukwonago in 2015.

 

  Phoebe got her taste for global citizenship when she was at Mukwonago when she completed her junior year as a study abroad student in Italy.  She loved the experience and shared with other students upon her return by speaking to International Club, World Geography classes and really anyone who would listen.  After graduating and moving to Arizona, Phoebe completed her college degree and just recently joined the Peace Corps.  This was the focus of her talk and students really enjoyed her presentation style and experiences she shared.

    Phoebe is currently serving in Fiji as a Peace Corps volunteer.  She completed her three month training and was then relocated on Viti Levu, the largest island in Fiji.  Her role within the Peace Corps is to help improve economic development within her local community.  This will involve getting to know the small business owners and help them set goals, plan financing and work on business plans to help them make well informed economic decisions.  One aspect of this is she will be teaching financial literacy classes to help encourage people to keep track of their finances so they can budget their spending and plan for their future.

    Phoebe spoke with us from her home in Fiji through her computer, which gave students the great opportunity to see her living conditions.  Phoebe made it quite clear her conditions are very good in comparison to many areas other Peace Corps volunteers are placed. She walked around her home with her computer see we could see everything.  Her living space (bedroom, living room) was all one room.  A second small room with a hot plate for cooking and a bathroom with a real toilet and shower with an actual shower head (cold water only).  She mentioned the importance of always having extra water on hand in case the water gets shut off so she would still be able to cook and wash.  Some of the other luxuries that she had, thanks to a generous Christmas gift from her parents was an electric blender and small refrigerator that would be common for a dorm room.  The source for her electricity is an extension chord that runs from her neighbors house (important to keep a good relationship with that neighbor).  

    The cultural challenges/adjustments that Phoebe is adjusting to are many, and it sounds like community members are not afraid to let her know when she commits one of these errors.  For example, when walking through a room and walking around somebody

Haiti Made Guest Speaker - Will McGinniss

 One of the perks of receiving the Global Scholar certificate and completing the program at Mukwonago High School is that students also receive a travel journal from Haiti Made.  The product is great - we love the fact that the students receive something that can be used rather than just sit on a shelf - and the story behind the project fits perfectly with the Global Scholar process.

In mid April, Global Scholars were able to meet with one of the cofounders of the company that makes the journal - Will McGinniss.  He discussed his background, the impact the company has made on the Haitian communities and the challenges of helping run an international company in a country like Haiti which is currently a "Failed State."

Students listening to Will McGinniss during the presentation

Will McGinniss started by explaining his background and how he got recruited as the Bass player in the band Audio Adrenaline (long story short, mothers have great ideas and create opportunities for you).  His involvement in the band sent him across the country and around the world playing across Europe, in Brazil and other venues.  The band won two Grammys in the early 2000s evidence of their success.  At this time they also believed they should find a way to use their platform to do something good for those in need.  Their lead singer grew up in a family of missionaries and had many stories about living in Haiti which persuaded the band to open up the Hands and Feet Project Orphanage in Haiti.  However after a few years of running the orphanage Will described their realization that they were creating a huge problem in Haiti.  Because the orphanage was able to provide food, shelter and education for children, families began abandoning their children and their work was actually breaking families up.  This lead them to establish the company Haiti Made - a leatherwork company making leather goods and creating jobs for the people in the community.  The result is that the company (which pays workers two to three times the minimum wage of Haiti) employs between 45-90 workers (depending on customer demand) creating economic stability for families and the ability to reunite and keep families together. 

Since its founding, Haiti Made has teamed up with other artisans and also sells metalwork, paper mache products, wood products and bone made jewelry from their website and at various boutiques across the United States.  Between the orphanage and Haiti Made, their investments into the work in Haiti supports a few hundred jobs - in turn supporting many families and their economic independence.

Red Star identifies Jacmel, one of the locations Will works out of.

However Will also discussed the risk analysis of working in Haiti, and when it comes down to international business, Haiti is on the bottom of the list of countries to invest in.  Primarily because of the uncertainty and instability of the politics of the country.  Recently, in 2021 the President of Haiti was assassinated (still has not been replaced).  The Prime Minister traveled internationally to seek help from other countries.  While Kenya has agreed to send military and police support, the country will not allow the Prime Minister back in.  This is because gangs have taken over about 80% of the capital city - Port Au Prince - and have shut down the airport, control the port and threaten violence toward anyone who works to bring outsiders into the city to stabilize the government.  So what does this mean for Haiti Made?

According to Will, the control of the gangs is limited to the capital city, and truthfully most internet searches focus just on Port-au-Prince.  Since the assassination in 2021 Will has ventured into Haiti and despite the turmoil, plans to travel back there in the next month as long as the airport reopens.  For the workers and the products?  Work is able to continue.  Will explained that the workers are still taking orders and are also displaying great bravery and perseverance to keep their company running.  While the port in Port-au-Prince is closed, it is not the only way to get products out of the country.  Their drivers find other routes to get products out of Haiti and to their customers.

Global Scholar students posing with Will.

The story and work of Haiti Made continues to keep my interest.  Some of the advice Will gave in regards to working in other countries and trying to help others in need seems so simple.  When you want to help, be sure to listen.  Billions of dollars have been spent in Haiti from other organizations to give people things they don't want and don't need resulting in a failed effort.  However, groups that talk to the people and ask how they can help, and then listen, those are the groups that find success, are accepted and truly make a difference.  

For Global Scholar students who were interested in hearing from Will but were not able to make the presentation, a video recording is posted on your google classroom page.  If you would like to see their products to support the workers of Haiti - check out the website here.  The journal our students receive is identified as the Kreye Journal in their leather products.

For more on Haiti Made check out their story on their website.