News Release: Vietnam War Teachers Named

12 June 2007

Thirty-six teachers from across the United States have been named to the Teach Vietnam Teachers Network, a group of educational ambassadors charged with perpetuating the lessons of the Vietnam era, said Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which created the network and hosts the national conference.
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The Teach Vietnam Teachers Network is a nationwide network of educators at all grade levels who are dedicated to teaching students about the Vietnam War era and building awareness of the Memorial Fund’s educational initiatives. Members of the Network represent the Memorial Fund in their school districts and communities, helping to educate other teachers and communities about the war’s legacy and how it continues to impact our nation today.

“Today’s students were not even alive during the Vietnam War,” said Scruggs. “The Teachers Network and the national conference are two ways the Memorial Fund is working to ensure that the historical lessons from this divisive era are taught in our schools.”

The Memorial Fund provides educators chosen to join the Network with educational resources and hosts a national conference in Washington, D.C. to help members develop lesson plans.

This year’s national conference will be held at American University on July 18-22. To mark the 25th anniversary of The Wall, this year’s Teachers Network members will receive a scholarship to defray travel expenses to Washington, D.C. Once they arrive, the conference is free of charge. Of the 36 new Network members, 32 will be attending this year’s conference, with several members from past classes attending as well.

The national conference features workshops and seminars about the Vietnam War and The Wall led by veterans, fellow teachers and other guest experts. One of this year’s featured speakers will be author Stanley Karnow, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of Vietnam: A History, which is considered the most comprehensive book on the subject.

During the conference, teachers will work on a group project examining one of several aspects of how the Vietnam War has affected American culture. Study topics will include: anti-war sentiment; families left behind; music of the era; Hollywood’s portrayal of the Vietnam War; the draft; fictional portrayals in literature; the long-lasting impact of the war; presidents and the war; Vietnam and the Vietnamese; and stereotypes of the Vietnam veteran. The five-day event also will include activities at The Wall and a breakfast with members of Congress in the Capitol.

The conference is open to all members of the Teach Vietnam Teachers Network and is designed to educate teachers about the history and continued impact of the Vietnam War. It also provides practical teaching techniques that attendees can use to incorporate the lessons of the war into their classrooms. Many past participants have cited the networking opportunities among teachers as the biggest benefit to attending the conference.

The Teach Vietnam Teachers Network was established in 2002. Currently, its membership includes over 250 educators from around the country, teaching all grade levels.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund accepts applications early each year for the Teach Vietnam Teachers Network. Information and applications can be found on the group’s Web site, http://www.vvmf.org/index.cfm?SectionID=13. The application deadline is usually at the end of March.

Established in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is the nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Today, through a series of outreach programs, it is dedicated to preserving the legacy of The Wall, promoting healing, educating about the impact of the Vietnam War and is building the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center, an underground educational facility, near The Wall.

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