by Cpl. Robert W. Beaver
Chevron Staff

Teachers from across the country gathered at James L. Day Hall Friday and Saturday (May 2 and May 3) to participate in the first of three Teach Vietnam Conferences to be held nationally this year to share their best practices in teaching about the Vietnam War and to learn new techniques to bring back to their students.

“Our mission is to educate the public, especially students, about the lasting impact of Vietnam,” said Jan. C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. “We want students to be interested in the subject and understanding of the sacrifices Americans have made.”

The event was co-hosted by the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Command
Museum and the VVMF, the organization responsible for the creation
of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.

“Throughout history we have relied on our military for freedom,” said Scruggs, a Vietnam veteran. “Those sacrifices are important because they happen today. We want students to approach this subject with an open mind.”

Members of the Teach Vietnam Teachers Network, a nationwide group of teachers from all levels, presented the curriculum to the 26 attending veterans and teachers who were mostly from California schools. Known as the ambassadors of the VVMF, the teachers network offered presentations about literature, common myths about the war and how to personalize the conflict by bringing Vietnam veterans into the classroom. The curriculum encourages students to develop critical-thinking skills and the ability to approach military conflict more openly, said Scruggs. It also shows methods through which students can honor military members for their service.

“This is was a great opportunity for us to share their perspectives on how to teach about the conflict,” Joseph G. Radzikowski, a history and political science teacher. “It’s important to educate students and the public to clear up the myths. War is ugly but people shouldn’t be mad at the warriors.”

The seminar concluded with a panel discussion which gave attendees the opportunity to hear stories about how the confl ict impacted those who served and their families. “I’m a Vietnam veteran, but I learned a lot of useful information from other veterans’ stories,” said Radzikowski, who served in the Marine Corps for more than 30 years, with two tours in Vietnam. “When people think about war, all they think about is men. Women also served and died there. It’s good to get a woman’s perspective because it helps tell the story more accurately.”

After the two-day conference participants learned the most eff ective methods for teaching about the Vietnam War. When they return to the classroom, they will be more equipped for educating their students about the often misunderstood conflict in Vietnam.