Dear Teachers,

When my young husband and childhood sweetheart was killed in Vietnam on February 29, 1968, I did not know that his death not only destroyed our lives together but it would set me on a course of deep questioning and discovery.

It took me 20 years to begin the exploration that resulted in the film Regret to Inform. When I began writing in 1988, I knew that I wanted to look at war through the eyes of women, because almost everything I knew about war is through men's experience—surely valid, but only one point of view. Most of what I learned about war when I was in school was the stories of significant battles. Everything I had been taught was from the American point of view. Everywhere I went in the United States and Vietnam, widows wanted to become a voice for peace, asking, "What can I do to help end war?" In Vietnam, I heard again and again, "If people could just come here and see what war does, they'd never want to do it again." My hope in making Regret to Inform is that by understanding these women's stories from both sides, viewers will begin to see that the enemy is war itself.

With this teaching guide, I invite you to use Regret to Inform to explore the Vietnam War with your students. The film and the guide give young people a different way to begin thinking about war in general, and the Vietnam War in particular. This teaching guide evolved with the input of a dynamic group of educators and activists who helped shape both the direction and content of the guide. We are delighted that Bill Bigelow, a member of this group, has written the curriculum, drawing from his experiences with Rethinking Schools and of teaching high school social studies students. The activities in this curriculum provide many ways to engage your students—through experiential activities, discussion, writing and thinking—across disciplines including social studies and language arts.

We encourage you to share your reactions to the film with us, and tell us how the activities worked in your classroom and any other ideas you have. We hope to build from this guide to a more comprehensive curriculum that explores the larger issues of war and peace. Please visit our website at www.regrettoinform.org for more information and to share your thoughts.

Since I first began this project in 1988 my hope was to open a dialogue with students and teachers around the country. I want to thank each and every teacher who will discuss the disturbing, emotional, challenging issues raised by this film. My deepest respect and gratitude goes to you, teachers who are committed to the work of helping to open the hearts and minds of young people to the critical issues of the time. There is no work that is more important, and I hope that my film helps you with your work.

Sincerely,

Barbara Sonneborn
Producer, Director Regret to Inform