Kosovo Declares Independence

The Washington Post is running an article entitled, "Independence is Proclaimed by Kosovo." The article begins, "A new state emerged from the long and bloody unraveling of Yugoslavia when the Serbian province of Kosovo declared independence on Sunday. Its ethnic Albanian leaders promised to embrace Kosovo's embittered Serb minority and forge a multiethnic, democratic nation." The article reports, " The move was immediately condemned by Serbia and its ally Russia. But the United States is expected to quickly recognize the new state, as is most of the European Union, in return for an agreement by Kosovo's leaders to submit to European Union supervision."

Read the Article!!

Discussion Starters for Younger Students

Ask your students to describe something that they have done alone. What did it feel like the first time your students did this alone? Were they proud of themselves? Why/why not?

Ask your students to share one thing about their family with the class that they would like other students to know. Why do they want other students to know this?

What do your students think the teacher should do if all of the sudden one of the students in the class raises his/her hand and says that he/she no longer wants to be a part of the class. Are there any advantages to being a part of the class? If so, what are they? Are there any disadvantages to being a part of the class? If so, what are they?

Have your students ever forgiven somebody for doing something wrong? What did they forgive somebody for doing? Why did they forgive this person instead of remaining angry for ever?

Discussion Starters for Older Students

Vocabulary terms to discuss: Ethnic; Thronged; Status; and, Impromptu.

Why do your students think that it is sometimes so hard for people from different ethnic backgrounds to get along. If students had to write a paper describing the tensions between the Serbians and the Albanians where might they look for more information? What do students think would be the best source for reliable information?

Do students think that one part of a country should be able to break away from another part of the country? Why/why not? Under what conditions should one part of the country be able to break away, if any? Under what conditions should a part of the country not be able to break away, if any?

Ask students to explain the meaning of the following statement: "The past should not be forgotten, but it belongs to the past and should be forgiven." What is the difference between forgetting and forgiving? What is the point of this statement? Do students agree with the point of this statement? Why/why not? Can students think of any other historical events that can be forgiven but not forgotten? If so, what events?