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United States of America

unknown state

 

School: 

Contact: Kasch, Bruce D

Date: 3-26-2001

We are a 7th grade World Geography class.

We have only Mercator in our text.

 

School: 

Contact: webmaster@evergreenpark.org

Date: 3-27-2001

Fellow researchers:
A quick glance at the World History book used in our school found a few of
the persons for whom you are looking. If all works well, those pages of
the book will be attached to this.
You specifically mentioned history classes. However, we also have an Art
History class which would probably include much more about some of the
names. If you wish, I can look there also in the future.
Best wishes on your endeavors.
Bruce J. Nelson

School: 

Contact: jgibson@remc11.k12.mi.us

Date: 3-28-2001

Mercator Andreas Vesalius Pieter Paul Rubens Jan Van Eyck Are treated as part of units on Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution. Sorry, thats All I have time for

Good Luck

School: 

Contact: EDavis@albany.k12.ny.us

Date: 3-30-2001

Alas, none of those names appear in the textbook I use in my 7th and 8th grade American History class with the exception of a brief mention of Mercator in regard to the map projection. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help, but since we've of late been emphasizing social history along with a shift toward more inclusion of native-born minority and female figures from our past, I've barely any space left for Mssr's Washington and Lincoln -- all due respect to those notables of Flanders! Good luck with your research and regards.

School: 

Contact: Chris_Wolski@gwinnett.k12.ga.us

Date: 3-30-2001

The only that are in our World History book are Andreas Vesalius and Jan Van Eyck. A few sentences each. Chris I. Wolski

School: 

Contact: drkrapf@op97.k12.il.us

Date: 4-5-2001

 

Dear Researchers,

I teach 8th grade social studies which includes history, geography, economics, political science and current news events. Our textbook is on American History. Traditionally in U.S. schools, 7th and 8th graders study American History. In 10th grade, students cover world history which would include Flanders and Belgium. You would have to contact high schools to find out if these people were mentioned.

The textbook we use is The American Nation by James West Davidson, Pedro Castillo and Michael B. Stoff. It is published by Prentice Hall, copyright 2000. The only person from your list mentioned is Gerardus Mercator. Our scanner is not functioning well, and the section on Mercator is short. I will just type it here for you. It is on pages 8 and 9 where the book tells the differences in types of maps.

"Mercator Projection In 1569, Gerardus Mercator developed the Mercator projection, the best map of its day. For hundreds of years, sailors depended on the Mercator map. Mercator himself boasted of his map: "If you wish to sail from one port to another, here is a chart, and a straight line on it, and if you follow this line carefully you will certainly arrive at your destination."

(There is a note to teachers at the bottom of the teachers' edition):

Mercator makes sea travel safer Thanks to Gerardus Mercator, ocean seafarers could accurately chart long voyages for the first time. Mercator thought of the Earth as shaped like an orange. The lines of longitude were like vertical cuts made in the rind. If the orange were peeled and the segments of the rind were lined up side by side, the sphere could be flattened out. Because the tops and bottoms of the segments did not touch, Mercator widened each section of his flattened globe at the top and bottom so that it formed a rectangle. By doing so, Mercator sacrificed accuracy at the areas around the poles, which accounts for the enlargement of landmasses at the top and bottom of the Mercator projection.

The text for students continues with a description of the Mercator projection and compares it to the Robinson projection. There are also two illustrations of Mercator and Robinson projections of the world.

School: 

Contact: Josh Blankenbaker

Date: 4-5-2001

I am responding to your e-mail about whether Flemish individuals are included in my class and textbook.

My text entitled Geography for Christian Schools talks about only Mercator. (pp. 4-5) I can not send you a fax or e-mail of the text due to copyright laws. You can contact the publisher at www.BJU.edu.

I also include from other sources information about Pieter Breughel the elder, Rubens, and Van Eyck. We discuss these men because of their great artistic ability and involvement in the Flemish school of art. (I like to include extra information about men I feel are important that the book has somehow left out.)

Thanks for your interest. I hope this helps.

Mr. Josh Blankenbaker