Asbury Park Middle School: A Class Onto Itself

What are the good things happening at Asbury Park Middle? Here is part 2 of the great things Mr. David Wronko’s History class did this year.

In late February of 2012, the Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth Vicinage brought their “Journey to Justice Program” to Asbury Park Middle School.

This program allowed students to not only learn about the Judicial branch of government but also to participate in a mock trial dealing with the ongoing problem of bullying.

The members to this program were very pleased with Howell the students performed in the mock trial.

Richelle Coleman, Assistant Family Division Manager stated in the Monmouth Tribune that the Asbury Park students “were extremely well-prepared as they enacted their roles and cross-examined witnesses in theatrical.”[/tab]

In late April of 2012, Mr. Wronko brought projects from Asbury Park Middle School and Asbury Park High School to the Museum in Trenton to participate in Super Science Saturday.

With the help of the students’ projects from Asbury Park, the Museum in Trenton on Super Science Saturday had a record of over 4,000 people.

This marks the Asbury Park School District’s third year at the Museum in Trenton for Super Science Saturday.

A special thanks goes to Ms. Furges, Ms. Mclaren, Mr. Quick, and Jean Johnson for allowing their students work to be put on display at the museum.

For Memorial Day, Mr. Parham, Asbury Park Middle School Vice Principal and veteran, Mr. Barry, Asbury Park Middle School security guard and veteran, and Mr. Wronko’s students teamed up to give a presentation for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The presentation began with Mr. Barry explaining his experiences through the use of multiple visuals such as the military equipment soldiers use and the food they eat.

From there the Veterans of Foreign Wars,Lou Parisi and George Reed gave their input about the true meaning of Memorial Day.

After their statements, Mr. Wronko’s students gave a power point presentation remembering all the soldiers that died in the American Revolution,Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War,Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, War in Afghanistan, and War in Iraq.In addition, the power point
presentation included many women and their heroic actions during those wars.

Finally, Mr. Parham concluded with the students on why Memorial Day was important.

Monmouth Battle Field Trip: Asbury Park Middle School Students went to Monmouth Battle Field to conduct a thorough investigation on why the British did not gain the upper hand over the American colonists during the Battle of Monmouth. This trip allowed students to become young historians and get field experience

During the year, Mr. Wronko assigned a research paper in which a different topic was assigned to a different student. The topics are listed below:

Compare the American Revolution and Vietnam War.

Compare the Vietnam War with the War in Iraq.

Compare the Hundred Year War with the French and Indian War.

Discuss the connection between the War of 1812 and the Napoleonic War.

Aaron Burr vs Alexander Hamilton.
Spanish American War compared to the War in Iraq (George W. Bush).

The War with Tripoli and Jefferson compared with the recent problems with
Libya.

Discuss the time frame: John Adams and the Alien and Sedition Acts with France.
Compare Macroeconomics with Microeconomics.

How was King Edward I similar to Abraham Lincoln.

Discuss the philosophies of Confucius and Zhuangzi.

Explain the Protestant Reformation and the purpose of Martin Luther and the
printing press.

Discuss who were Herodotus and Thucydides and their works of history.
Compare the Holocaust, Slavery (slavery dealing with the Amistad, Triangle Slave
Trade, and past the time of Civil War), and the Spanish Inquisition.

Talk about the impact of Thomas Jefferson’s purchase of the New Louisiana Purchase (include the Lewis and Clark Expedition).

The impact of the European Explorers and the 13 British Colonies.

Discuss the U.S. Constitution, The Bill of Rights, and All of the Amendments.
Gettysburg Address, Eight Major Supreme Court Cases (including right to privacy and Miranda rights), The Executive Branch, The Legislative Branch, and Judicial Branch.
Alexander the Great compared to William Howe. Compare Civil War, World War II, American Revolution, and the Battle of Cannae.

Discuss African Americans and Native Americans in The American Revolution.

Discuss African Americans and Native Americans in The Civil War.

Discuss African Americans and Native Americans in WWI.

Discuss African Americans and Native Americans in WWII.

Discuss African Americans and Native Americans in the Korean War.

Discuss African Americans and Native Americans in the Vietnam War.

Explain Brown vs Board of Education.
Discuss and explain The NAACP/Tuskegee Airmen.

Discuss and explain the Civil Rights and Vietnam Era.

Compare the war with the Spanish Armada with the conflict between the Monitor and Merrimack.

Compare Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine, John Locke, and the Enlightment.

Discuss famous American Women of the 20th and early 21st century.

Compare the rise of the Roman Empire with the rise of the Soviet Union
(From the beginning of WWI to the end of WWII.)

Compare the works of Michelangelo and Leonardo De Vinci.

Explain the significance of the Stono Rebellion.

The Significance of the Space program from Sputnik, to astronauts or
cosmonauts who orbited the Earth, to the first moon landing.

Discuss the significance of The European Crusades.

Discuss how the Battle of the Little Big Horn led a movement to destroy
Native Americans.

Discuss the theory and conspiracy surrounding Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.

What was the significance behind the Great Dinosaur Wars? What contributions did it play in the development of museums?

Describe the history of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Discuss the history of the male dominated society ordered by Henry VIII (Discuss the history of his wives and the idea of having a male heir).

How Vince McMahon dominated the wrestling industry.

Was the atomic bomb the right decision (who developed and sponsored it)?
How did Bill Gates dominate the world of technology?

Edgar Rice Burroughs biography and works (summary for each work).
Compare the works of Galileo, Tycho Brahe, and Epicurus.

Compare the Lincoln and Douglas debate to the Kennedy and Nixon Debate. What led to the debates; what were the issues; what was the climate of the country at
those times?

Discuss the John Scopes Monkey Trial (Evolution).

Discuss the “Orders” of architecture and when they were used.

Discuss the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crises.

Discuss the Star Wars program under Ronald Reagan.

Explain the Water Gate Scandal surrounding President Nixon’s Presidency.

Compare and contrast Sherman’s March to the use of the Atomic Bombs in World
War II.

Compare and contrast the works of J.R.R. Tolkein to World War I and World War
II.

The Asbury Park Middle students had to research their topic and then type their report. A sample copy follows. (See attachment)

Special thanks to Chenelle Covin, Keith Covin, Dr. Lewis, Dr. Barrett, Mr. Parham, Ms. Bates, Mr. Cytryn, Mr. Kames, and Ms. Haraz.