Learning intentions
students are learning to...
- Explore the values held by New Zealanders that led them to take part in the Vietnam War.
- Consider if the decision as portrayed in the footage of veterans was a well informed one
Success criteria (How do students know they have achieved success?)
Students will be able to give their view of New Zealand in the 1960s by selecting from: images from the 1960s, quotes from the veterans and the apparent editorial conclusion of the film.
Relevant Film Archive On Disk footage (chapter title)
Activity
Students complete the table Student Hand Out 1 Introduction: veterans' views and cultural background summarising what they saw and giving appropriate quotes form the introduction.
For example: Summary of Importance boxes “footage shows New Zealand as a happy, sunny, fun environment possibly unaware of more serious political issues.
The veterans talk of themselves coming from families where fighting in wars was expected and not necessarily questioned”
Students then complete the bottom row describing what they believe the filmmaker’s opinion on the New Zealanders going to fight are.
Questions for Discussion:
- What were some of the specific reasons given by veterans for going to fight in Vietnam?
- What reasons did President Johnson give for the USA going to fight in Vietnam?
- Do you think the film offers a specific opinion about New Zealanders fighting in Vietnam? (ideas of youth and naivety)
