Dear Teach: Antiquity Character Education

Hi Boys and Girls.

Character Education is something all schools are involved in these days. Between meet-ups to discussions on bullying, to making cards for veterans, one can surely see being a friend and acting respectfully is the name of the game. This type of behavior isn’t something so new. I bet you didn’t know people from over 4, 000 years ago were caring citizens too. In fact, there now is evidence to support this claim.  In the article,” Ancient Bones That Tell a Story of 

Compassion,” written by James Gorman, tells of archeological finds that support care and understanding for people with physical disabilities. 

Unlike what was previously believed, ancient societies cared for those who were crippled, and who most likely could not care for themselves. Excavating graves revealed skeletons of young people arranged in fetal positions rather than lying straight down. This arrangement of bones spurred further analysis that determined this particular skeleton belonged to an adolescent who had a physical disability. It was concluded that in order for this person to have lived, he had to have received care and support, whereas previous beliefs were that imperfect humans were left to die, unsupported by their communities.

Take a closer look at the article that follows and read important details about this amazing discovery.



DISABLED Almost all the other skeletons

at the Man Bac site, south of Hanoi, are straight.

 But the man now called Burial 9 was laid to rest

curled in a fetal position that suggests lifelong

paralysis.

So after you have read the article here, reflect on it. What are your new ideas about how caring for someone 4,000 ago would be like.

Be Well.
The Teach