Schools

Civil War Comes to Lee Burneson Middle School

Students take on roles of famous and ordinary people in the Civil War

It's Civil War week at .

But instead of capping off studies about the Civil War with a passive watching of Ken Burns' documentary, the students are getting active.

Tuesday night was the annual Civil War Encampment. Students got a Civil War-era meal of stew with biscuits and cornbread.

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Then, they were off to watch their 32 of their classmates classmates portray figures from that time, including Mark Twain, Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, Robert Gould Shaw, Louisa May Alcott, soldiers and citizens.

Teacher Sally Fetko said that the encampment has evolved over recent years.

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"At first, we brought in real re-enactors," she said. "They knew a lot, but it was boring for the kids. They, we used high school students. Last year, we decided to let eighth-graders do the characters, and it was better than it's ever been."

If chosen to portray a Civil War character, students have to thoroughly research their character and write their own script, rehearsing it for about a month.

"They don't just stand up there and say, 'My name is Abraham Lincoln,' and then recite date or birth, date of death, etcetera," Fetko said. "It's really about capturing a moment in time for the character, and bringing them to life."

For example, Abraham Lincoln (portrayed by Justin Godfrey) and John Wilkes Booth (Evan Chrisman) appear together, sometimes disputing each others' views of the war and their fateful connection.

Students in the audience got to ask questions, which were answered in character.

Friday night is the 22nd annual Civil War Ball at Lee Burneson.

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