High school devotes year to Madison

A March birthday bash wrapped up a yearlong interdisciplinary program focusing on the life of James Madison at James Madison High School in Vienna, Va.

JMHS students studied Madison through course work in an attempt "to make students familiar with the person the school is named for," says Carter Vaden, a JMHS foreign language teacher who heads the Madison's study program.

From September to February, teachers created monthly fact sheets and displays covering such topics as James and Dolley Madison's lives, Madison's role in the Constitutional Convention and the technology of Madison's era.

Teachers offered Madison-related extra credit, scavenger hunts and included area Madison retreats, Fort McHenry, Gadsby Tavern, Decatur House and Carlyle House, in lessons. Physical education students played popular Madison-era games, and the Happy Feet Cloggers demonstrated popular dances of Madison's day.

Vaden says, "Our presenters included Madison portrayer John Douglas Hall and Linda Chadwick, dressing as Dolley. Our speakers included University of Richmond professor Woody Holton, who spoke on the Constitution, and Anthony Pitch, who wrote The Burning of Madison about the War of 1812."

Playwright Noman Allen spoke on Madison's friendship with Thomas Jefferson. Planning for the Madison programs began over a year ago, because, Vaden says, "The students at JMHS didn't know any more about Madison than if they went to another school."

By Kristen Petro ('01)