John Calvin NEH Institute, day two

I am reading about martyrdom and death in Western Europe from approx 1500-1700. Not all people who were killed could be considered martyrs. Two Augustinian monks were burned in Brussels in July 1523. There were many people killed (Protestants, Anabaptists & Roman Catholics) in the name of religion in Western Europe. Not so many deaths in Italy



Anabaptists believed you had to renounce your baptism and constantly be aware of accepting baptism. They got rid of clergyman, leaders were Karlstadt Muntzer. They believed in a Augustinian Spiritualism & Utopia, wanted everyone to go to heaven, believed that you could have direct contact with God, they believed you had to be good on the inside (spirit) and follow the scripture. They read and sang and preached, believed that God was in all people. They believed in personal responsibility for moral practices, not predestination. Live life according to God's will & read the scriptures. They took their anticlerical sentiment and transferred it to Luther and educated scholars as well, as they perceived them to be monopolizing the scripture. They criticized Luther for making the passion more "honey sweet", while ignoring the bitterness of it. Wanted internal change and it needed to be demonstratable.
Anabaptists encouraged women to take an active role, they fought in the peasants war and took part in the Anabaptist movement. Women hid and sheltered the persecuted, they supported their husbands, but if they did not feel spiritual harmony they left them. Reduced sacraments to only communion and baptism. They were upset by indulgences, separated themselves from the world because the world was evil and everyone lived in sin.

NYSCSS Updates

This past weekend we had our official NYSCSS change over meeting. Mary Duffin will be our new NYSCSS President, effective June 30, 2009. Our convention will be held next year in March at the Rye Town Hilton, Len Romano is our convention chair.
On June 28th I will begin a three week NEH institute entitled "Making Sense of the Reformation" in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Two other New York teachers are also participating in this program, Elizabeth Bierling-Powers of Washingtonville & Susan Cullen of Bethlehem. I am really excited to learn more about the Reformation and incorporate my new knowledge into my lessons for next year.
On July 26th, Beck LaRose of Fayetteville Manlius and I will be heading to Laramie Wyoming to learn about Women's Suffrage.
Watch for future updates about these great experiences.

This is a Social Studies Blog aimed at New York State Social Studies teachers, although many teachers in the United States will probably find it helpful. My name is Linda Lapp, I am the current President of the New York State Council for the Social Studies (NYSCSS). This weekend I attended the Greater Metropolitan New York (GMNY) Social Studies Conference. Other Social Studies teachers asked me about various summer opportunities and how they could learn more about them. I decided then and there to create a blog revoloving around Social Studies Professional Development Opportunities. Please follow this blog and check back often for updates and information.
Right now I would like to direct you to the NYSCSS website where you can download the 2009 Convention Registration packet. Our convention this year will be held in Saratoga, NY - April 1-4. Registrations postmarked before March 17th receive the early bird registration discount. Visit www.nyscss.org to download your registration form today. I hope to see you there!