It is sadly so far off the mark that one has to wonder how it ever could have been said:  “The war to end all wars.” Though attributed most often to President Woodrow Wilson, the originator was actually science fiction writer H. G. Wells in his articles that became the book The War That Will End War. Whether right or wrong, we can learn about the present and the future if we study the past. The NCSML’s History on the 8’s program brings several topics this year, including The War to End all Wars on July 18.  Be sure to catch it live, or watch later, at the NCSML’s Facebook page. Or, if you can, attend in person!

Many of the most significant moments in Czech and Slovak history occurred in years ending in “8.” History on the 8’s is a lecture series featuring five acclaimed national and international authors and scholars who will put the pivotal events of 1918, 1938, 1948, and 1968 into historical context and show how they continue to shape our lives in 2018.

These events are streamed on the NCSML Facebook page, and then preserved for watching later.  Here is the March presentation by Kenneth Janda, The Emperor and the Peasant.

Everyone on the NCSML team is involved, in one way or another, in the teaching and sharing functions of the NCSML mission.

School Visits

It was just another day at the NCSML with school visits as part of the day’s activities. Such visits are fairly common because the study tours are very popular. Between the two elementary school groups and another of high school students, more than 120 had the sort of engaging, informational, fun experience that they hoped for and expected. The visitors experienced presentations, activities, and learning opportunities that would have made Jan Ámos Komenský proud as they learned from Czech and Slovak stories, history, and culture

Road to College

College can be daunting to prepare for. For the first time, the NCSML will be offering the Road to College summer series to help relieve that stress. Using the current exhibit, Guts and Glory: the War Train that Shaped a Nation, students will take an in-depth look at WWI through differing topics such as military technology, propaganda art, and global geopolitics. Through discussion-based sessions attendees will cover essential skills for the first year of college including thesis construction, vocabulary, historical analysis, and source citation.

This series is designed for high school students who are prepared to begin tackling college-level discussions. There will be four sessions in total — Tuesday, June 19, through Friday, June 22 — from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Students will have a unique opportunity to learn from artifacts, primary resources, and our WWI exhibition.

Watch for other events including family art workshops, cultural events, folk tale performances, and more here.

Let me know if you’re interested in supporting these programs by contacting me at DMcInnis@NCSML.org or at 832-877-8821.