Why rely on the TISS Speakers Program ?
¨ TISS goals and objectives:
The Triangle Institute for Security Studies is an organization devoted to the study of national and international security. The purpose of the TISS Speakers Program is to stimulate community interest in, and understanding of, the vital issues of war and peace. It is our conviction that the success of a democratic republic depends upon an informed citizenry. To that end, we have assembled a group of speakers who are willing to talk about some of the most pressing concerns of the modern world. While we send our speakers to a variety of community groups, we feel that it is especially important to reach our young people and help foster in them an interest in these crucial issues at an early age.
¨ About our speakers:
· All of our speakers are highly qualified. The majority are on the faculty of one of the local universities. Several are retired government officials. Our speakers have extensive experience, often practical as well as theoretical. Many of them have lived abroad and/or have first-hand experience of the events of which they speak. They are all experts in their fields.
· All of our speakers enjoy talking to young people. By engaging their audiences in thoughtful debate, they stimulate interest in the subject and help students develop critical thinking skills.
¨ Relevance to high schools and middle schools:
The TISS Speakers Program can help high schools and middle schools achieve several of their goals and objectives:
· Teaching students to see reality from a variety of perspectives.
Our speakers have been educated in a variety of different disciplines. Each speaker brings to the classroom a different academic perspective. Disciplines represented include:
Political Science
History
Law
Anthopology
· Helping students to gain an appreciation of different cultures.
The geographic range covered by our speakers is extensive: United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa.
· Helping students understand how the past shapes the present.
Many of our speakers are historians. The chronological range of topics discussed by our speakers runs from the Middle Ages to the Post-Cold War era. Our speakers include authorities on such formative events as the American Civil War, Vietnam, and the Cold War.
Fostering civic competence.
Few things are as important to the preservation of our democratic society as learning how to make reasoned decisions about the issues of war and peace. Yet, in the post-Cold War world, news concerning international security can be bewildering, complex, and overwhelming. Our speakers have the enthusiasm and the competence to help your students tackle these questions and learn how to be effective problem-solvers.
Among the many compelling issues addressed by our speakers are the following: Why study war? Is the United Nations useful? How do we deal with terrorism? What is the role of the intelligence service? Is ethnicity a cause of war? What is the appropriate relationship between civilians and the military?
¨ What can TISS do for you?
· Our speakers are prepared to visit individual classrooms.
· They are willing to participate in full day or half-day activities.
· Although our speakers do provide TISS with a list of topics they particularly enjoy speaking on, they are also willing to work with individual teachers and schools to meet particular needs.
¨ What will it cost you?
· Nothing. The Triangle Institute for Security Studies will provide a small honorarium to its speakers and cover travel costs to schools outside of the local area. We do not ask the schools to make any contributions.
¨ How Does the Speakers Program Work?
· If you are interested in lining up a speaker call or email Carolyn Pumphrey as far in advance as possible. She will make preliminary contact with the speaker and then put him/her in touch with you to finalize details.
· While most of our speakers are, in principle, willing to speak to groups of students and /or teachers outside the Triangle, the difficulty increases with distance. If your school is located far away, advance preparation is vital to success.
· After your event is completed, please submit the attached form, confirming that the event did indeed take place, and providing us with some particulars.
