Chapter 10: Evaluating Living History Program Results
The school administration is going to want to evaluate the effectiveness of your program. If the administration is skeptical of the program at first, you can expect close scrutiny at an early time in the school year. As noted in the PREFACE, Mr. Thomas was at first skeptical of Mr. Ryan’s program but soon was won over. As the year progresses and the program proves effective, the scrutiny will abate. If the program has been successful in the past, however, you will find that evaluations will be less frequent, but that is no reason not to be any less rigorous in executing that year’s program.
You should welcome all evaluations. Evaluations should be built into the program. They not only measure progress but help to explain the program to others and be a tool in garnering support and funds from parents and outside agencies. School boards, for example, will be looking for results, and evaluations are good tools to inform them of progress and request support if needed.
There are four types of evaluations: school administrator, teacher, student, and parent. The format for all four types should be carefully crafted. (For examples of some types of evaluations, see ANNEX U.)
School administration evaluations offer a top down perspective on the effectiveness of the program. They may be periodic or sporadic. The school board may ask the school administration for a semi-annual or annual evaluation. Your input will be critical, so it is a good idea to make comprehensive notes during the course of the school year so that you may make a comprehensive report upon which an evaluation may be based. You may also be asked to make an oral evaluation before the administration or school board, so detailed note taking is encouraged.
Teacher evaluations should be conducted every ranking period. These may be either written or oral. An informal teachers’ conference may be adequate to evaluate the program, make changes, or discuss problems. Informal note taking by you will be helpful in keeping the program on track, especially where there are reoccurring matters which continually need to be addressed.
Student evaluations should be part of the program’s archive. If the program is new to the school, an evaluation session at mid-term might be helpful. If the Living History Program is well established, then a year-end evaluation should suffice. Student participants should be encouraged to tell what they liked about the program, what they did not like about the program, and what could be done to improve the program. Their evaluations should be reviewed before the next academic year begins and recommendations integrated into the program as is appropriate.
Parent evaluations should be especially welcome. The request for such evaluations tends to bind the parents to the program as they then acquire a vested interest into seeing the program succeed. Oral evaluations can be requested informally at parent review sessions or “meet the teacher” activities. Written evaluations might be encouraged, but you want to avoid any parental “second guessing,” so a year-end written evaluation may be most appropriate.
GLOSSARY
Challenge The first of two parts of a military password; a guard issues the challenge - “George” and the challenged person answers - “Patton” in response, which allows that person to pass the guard post
Chain of Command The military hierarchy starting with the regimental commander and going down to the lowest ranking soldier
Company A military formation consisting of from five to ten student participants
Council of Inquiry A group of four or more student participants who make determinations regarding disciplinary matters and demerit judgments Demerit A violation of school or military protocol resulting in a written acknowledgment
Drill Practicing military movements during a set period of time; a drill might last an hour
Esprit de Corps The high spirit of a unit enhanced by good individual morale and a means of member bonding; a military unit having high esprit de corps is inevitably an organization capable of outstanding performance
Folder, Student Place where student participant’s records are kept by a teacher
Guard Mount A daily ceremony where the new guard for the day is inspected and orders are issued
Guard, Private of the A soldier who is charged with walking a guard post and insuring that certain orders are carried out and obeyed
Guard, Noncommissioned Officer of the The corporal or sergeant who posts and relieves guards from their post while insuring the guards understand their orders
Guard, Officer of the The officer who is in charge of the daily guard detail, supervises the Guard Mount, and inspects the guard at different times
Inspection An activity where unit members are inspected to see that they are in proper uniform; they are properly equipped; their weapons are clean and functional; and they know their orders
Log, Provost Marshal’s Ledger in which the provost marshal logs all school and military demerits
Merit A simple document acknowledging a good deed or a military achievement
Password A two-part word consisting of a challenge and a response which is employed by a guard in determining the eligibility of another person to pass the guard’s post
Pay Book Each student participant keeps a record of dues paid, merits, demerits, etc. in this pay book, which is a permanent record of his or her activities
Platoon A subordinate formation of a company consisting of from three to five student participants
Post, Guard A walking or stationary post of a soldier charged with guarding some military activity, such as an encampment
Rank A degree of responsibility within the military hierarchy, e.g., a sergeant or a captain
Ranking Period A period of time coinciding usually with a grading period during which student participants are awarded merits, demerits, and promotions
Regiment The major military organization in the Living History Program of which there are two representing two opposing sides, e.g. the 20th Maine (Union Army) Regiment and the 47th Alabama (Confederate Army) Regiment
Retreat The evening formation where the national flag is lowered and retired for the night
Reveille Soldiers rise from their beds and assemble in formation where a count of those present or excused absent is made
Title A position of responsibility within the military chain of command, e.g. platoon leader
Warrant A document appointing a student participant to a position in the chain of command, e.g.
the Committee of Safety gives a student a warrant as a company commander
You should welcome all evaluations. Evaluations should be built into the program. They not only measure progress but help to explain the program to others and be a tool in garnering support and funds from parents and outside agencies. School boards, for example, will be looking for results, and evaluations are good tools to inform them of progress and request support if needed.
There are four types of evaluations: school administrator, teacher, student, and parent. The format for all four types should be carefully crafted. (For examples of some types of evaluations, see ANNEX U.)
School administration evaluations offer a top down perspective on the effectiveness of the program. They may be periodic or sporadic. The school board may ask the school administration for a semi-annual or annual evaluation. Your input will be critical, so it is a good idea to make comprehensive notes during the course of the school year so that you may make a comprehensive report upon which an evaluation may be based. You may also be asked to make an oral evaluation before the administration or school board, so detailed note taking is encouraged.
Teacher evaluations should be conducted every ranking period. These may be either written or oral. An informal teachers’ conference may be adequate to evaluate the program, make changes, or discuss problems. Informal note taking by you will be helpful in keeping the program on track, especially where there are reoccurring matters which continually need to be addressed.
Student evaluations should be part of the program’s archive. If the program is new to the school, an evaluation session at mid-term might be helpful. If the Living History Program is well established, then a year-end evaluation should suffice. Student participants should be encouraged to tell what they liked about the program, what they did not like about the program, and what could be done to improve the program. Their evaluations should be reviewed before the next academic year begins and recommendations integrated into the program as is appropriate.
Parent evaluations should be especially welcome. The request for such evaluations tends to bind the parents to the program as they then acquire a vested interest into seeing the program succeed. Oral evaluations can be requested informally at parent review sessions or “meet the teacher” activities. Written evaluations might be encouraged, but you want to avoid any parental “second guessing,” so a year-end written evaluation may be most appropriate.
GLOSSARY
Challenge The first of two parts of a military password; a guard issues the challenge - “George” and the challenged person answers - “Patton” in response, which allows that person to pass the guard post
Chain of Command The military hierarchy starting with the regimental commander and going down to the lowest ranking soldier
Company A military formation consisting of from five to ten student participants
Council of Inquiry A group of four or more student participants who make determinations regarding disciplinary matters and demerit judgments Demerit A violation of school or military protocol resulting in a written acknowledgment
Drill Practicing military movements during a set period of time; a drill might last an hour
Esprit de Corps The high spirit of a unit enhanced by good individual morale and a means of member bonding; a military unit having high esprit de corps is inevitably an organization capable of outstanding performance
Folder, Student Place where student participant’s records are kept by a teacher
Guard Mount A daily ceremony where the new guard for the day is inspected and orders are issued
Guard, Private of the A soldier who is charged with walking a guard post and insuring that certain orders are carried out and obeyed
Guard, Noncommissioned Officer of the The corporal or sergeant who posts and relieves guards from their post while insuring the guards understand their orders
Guard, Officer of the The officer who is in charge of the daily guard detail, supervises the Guard Mount, and inspects the guard at different times
Inspection An activity where unit members are inspected to see that they are in proper uniform; they are properly equipped; their weapons are clean and functional; and they know their orders
Log, Provost Marshal’s Ledger in which the provost marshal logs all school and military demerits
Merit A simple document acknowledging a good deed or a military achievement
Password A two-part word consisting of a challenge and a response which is employed by a guard in determining the eligibility of another person to pass the guard’s post
Pay Book Each student participant keeps a record of dues paid, merits, demerits, etc. in this pay book, which is a permanent record of his or her activities
Platoon A subordinate formation of a company consisting of from three to five student participants
Post, Guard A walking or stationary post of a soldier charged with guarding some military activity, such as an encampment
Rank A degree of responsibility within the military hierarchy, e.g., a sergeant or a captain
Ranking Period A period of time coinciding usually with a grading period during which student participants are awarded merits, demerits, and promotions
Regiment The major military organization in the Living History Program of which there are two representing two opposing sides, e.g. the 20th Maine (Union Army) Regiment and the 47th Alabama (Confederate Army) Regiment
Retreat The evening formation where the national flag is lowered and retired for the night
Reveille Soldiers rise from their beds and assemble in formation where a count of those present or excused absent is made
Title A position of responsibility within the military chain of command, e.g. platoon leader
Warrant A document appointing a student participant to a position in the chain of command, e.g.
the Committee of Safety gives a student a warrant as a company commander