Onward Christian Soldier in the
classroom
This is
the kind of history writing I could have learned
from years ago in school! -
D.Anderson
No
sooner had I published an Op-Ed for The Free-Lance
Star in regards to teaching "accurate and unbiased
Civil War history" when I received a wonderful
email from a Virginia teacher who has used my book
Onward Christian Soldier in his classroom.
Although I have received several
requests for copies from home schooling
individuals, I am well aware of the "Politically
Correct" reality of today's school system and had
reluctantly accepted the fact that a
Christian-based biography would not be welcome in
the world of public education.
Apparently I was wrong, and I would
like to thank Mr. Geoffrey McCabe for selecting my
work as an acceptable study aid for his students.
Throughout my research, I have strived to present
an intimate, Christian-based portrait of Thomas
Jackson and his approval as a teacher has given me
a wonderful sense of validation. He wrote:
As a fifth grade teacher in the
Spotsylvania School System, I have tried, with
God's help, to expose my students to as many
genuine historical perspectives as reasonably
possible. It is quite evident from my own personal
research into the lives of Abraham Lincoln, Robert
E. Lee e.g. that many, if not most, of the
prominent leaders in the Civil War were men of high
moral fiber and Christian principles. Michael
Aubrecht's book, Onward Christian Soldier, depicts
in straightforward fashion the importance faith in
Jesus Christ had in the life and death of Stonewall
Jackson. Several of my students read this book as
part of their research paper projects and were able
to gain great insight into this interesting and
influential American. - Geoffrey
McCabe
As
a result, I have become more confident in proposing
my work as curriculum and invite any teacher who
may be interested in using this book to
email
me for a free PDF (Adobe
Acrobat) copy that they can review prior to
purchasing the book for use in their classrooms or
libraries.
Onward Christian Soldier presents
the life and death of Thomas Jackson with a special
attention focused on his religious beliefs. In 10
concise chapters, Jackson's spirituality is
presented as the foundation for what made him a
legend. One recent email sent by a student
summarizes the educational potential of OCS:
This may be one of the shortest -
yet one of the best - biographies I have ever read.
While other books spend thousands of pages
attempting to capture the essence of their subject,
you have done so in less than one hundred. Each
chapter flows nicely and it was refreshing to read
about the man first and a general second.
- Jay Parks
Onward Christian Soldier presents
Jackson's:
- Difficult childhood and tragic
family history
- Experiences and struggles as a
student at West Point
- Success in the field while
serving in the Mexican conflicts
- Experience as a professor at the
Virginia Military Institute
- Philosophy and strategy for
training Confederate recruits
- Service and initial struggles in
the Presbyterian Church
- Prayer studies, Deacon and
Sunday School contributions
- Petitions and efforts for the
appointment of CSA chaplains
- Battlefield exploits, victories
and failures in the field
- Impact on the morale and
spiritual conversion of his troops
- Untimely death and its affect on
the south's war efforts
- The book also features a variety
of quotes, letters and newspaper articles
including what is considered to be the most
accurate report of his last days as written by
his personal surgeon Dr. Hunter McGuire.
The
companion volume, Christian Cavalier, mirrors this
approach in telling the life and death story of
General James Ewell Brown (J.E.B.) Stuart.
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