Civil War Era Springs To Life At Newtown Middle School

By Larissa Lytwyn

Longtime Newtown Middle School eighth grade history teacher Ray Shupenis wanted to do something “different” this year.

“It’s important that history comes alive for the students,” he said. “I thought dressing in clothes from the era would help them get more intimate with the times.”

Encouraging students to draw costume ideas from home, the eight graders arrived attired in sweeping hoop skirts, bonnets, tailored pants, and wide-brimmed hats.

The clothing came from everywhere, he said, from family heirlooms to thrift stores to costume shops.

“Some students dressed as slaves, others as soldiers or Southern belles,” Mr Shupenis said. During their Civil War study, the class read copies of recovered diaries to learn more personable details of everyday life during the period.

“I really wanted the students to get a feel of both sides’ perspective,” said Mr Shupenis.

They also watched clips from period films, including Gone with the Wind.

The dress-up day was one of the teacher’s rarely granted extra credit assignments. “Almost the entire class came dressed up in something,” he said. Many of the students wore the clothing all day.

“A lot of students told me that their friends in other classes wanted to do the same kind of thing [for their classes],” said Mr Shupenis.

Describing it as a “great success,” he is considering doing the activity again next year.