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 Learning in any good school does not occur in a vacuum or in following a text throughout any given year. At St. Richard's School we integrate learning not only with the curriculum, but also with instruction and assessment designed to fuse learning styles and multiple intelligences in an increasingly diverse world. Students think and learn new ideas and new issues on a daily basis, and these fuel the movement to address forms of diversity: intellectual, physical, emotional, and cultural. A great school, therefore, aims at student growth that includes but goes beyond academic mastery. Learners in this third millennium will require new technological skills, but, more important, they will require skills to understand and critique all aspects of life in order to make decisions that will impact all of our lives for the better. This web page will keep you informed of learning that goes on beyond the classroom so that students will be able to draw fullness and richness from experiences that take into account the age, talents, and developmental level of each student.
Beyond the Classroom, 2006-2007:
The mystery of a young pharaoh's death by Mackenzie Scott, 8th grade
King Tutankhamen of Egypt died at age18 in 1323 B.C. Like any other Pharaoh of his time, he was mummified and put to rest. It was hoped that he would live on, and live on he did. In 1922, Tutankhamen?s tomb was found, but with his discovery came questions, the biggest question being about his death. Several explanations to this question have been considered. Was the king murdered? Did he fall off of his chariot while in battle? Or was he felled by a simple infection?
Tutankhamen?s father was Akenaten. Before Akenaten's reign, Egypt believed in Polytheism, or belief in many gods. During his rule Akenaten decided to change the religion to monotheism, belief in one god. This decision caused controversy in Egypt because many did not approve of the change in religion. As a result of his father's adjustments in the religion of Egypt, some believe, King Tut may have been murdered. The 1968 X-rays of King Tut showed major scull damage that  was believed to be caused by a blow to the head while the king was still alive. This theory was very believable until recently. In January 2005 a team, directed by Dr. Zahi Howass, used a CT machine to take a full body scan of the mummy,according to the traveling exhibit Tutankhamen and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. Detailed CT scans of King Tutankhamen's mummy found no physical evidence of murder.
Also, "the 1968 X-rays revealed a bone fragment inside the king's scull," Brian Handwerk wrote. This was thought to be caused by a blow to the head. But recent studies have shown that the fragments were caused by Howard Carter, who found King Tut?s tomb, and his team. The CT scans showed no evidence of embalming fluid near the head injuries, thereby proving that these injuries were caused after the king?s death and burial. If the injuries had happened while Tut was alive, or during mummification, then the embalmers would have acknowledged the wound while embalming. King Tutankhamen was most likely not murdered.
During King Tut's rule, Egypt was thought to be at war. King Tut could have been injured in battle, from a fall off of his chariot. "On the walls of the king?s tomb there are paintings of him on his chariot," according to the article, "King Tut's final secrets.?"King Tut had very suspicious bone and rib breaks. These breaks could have been caused by Howard Carter, the embalmers, or a chariot fall. We know that it was not the embalmers, because there were no signs of resin on the remains of the ribs. But because we have no real evidence that the king was killed by a chariot fall, Howard Carter and his team are most likely responsible for the rib damage. King Tut probably didn?t die from rib damage because he didn?t have rib damage when he was alive.
Lastly, there is the theory of infection. Although King Tut acquired many fractures, one seems to stand out: a fracture in the King's left thigh. "Some researchers felt that the break represented a serious injury that Tut had sustained shortly before death," Brian Handwerk said. We know that the break happened before Tut's death because of the embalming fluid found in the break. We also know that the break was not caused by the embalmers because, if the body was dropped, the bone couldn't have been broken all the way through. "Studies show results of inflammation, results of Tut's body reacting while he was alive" ("King Tut's Final Secrets"). Scientists believed that the break gave Tut an open wound. That wound then gave Tut an infection that could not be treated at the time. Without antibiotics King Tut died in a matter of days after the infection.
King Tutunkhamun was put to rest when he died. He hoped to live on and be known by those after him. King Tut definitely got his wish. The cause of his death was under speculation for years. Finally with modern technology we are shown some answers as to why he died. The strongest evidence suggests he died of infection, but we can never know for sure. The mysterious death of King Tutankhamen will linger in the minds of us all for years to come.
Resource teacher Barbara Woller taught Study Skills classes to the current 6th grade students on November 17, 21, and 30, 2006. The unit was divided into three sections which covered organizational skills, learning styles, and studying for and taking tests. St. Richard's students are consistently praised by area high schools on their eagerness and readiness to learn as well as their mastery of efficiently learning course material.
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