Amy J. Rutenberg
@amyjay401.bsky.social
4.9K followers 2.1K following 430 posts
Historian of War, Gender, and the Modern U.S. Author of Rough Draft: Cold War Military Manpower Policy and the Origins of Vietnam-Era Draft Resistance. Working on a book on the effects of peace activism on the US military. Former high school teacher.
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amyjay401.bsky.social
100% true, but thoughtful deaccessioning is not what’s happening.
amyjay401.bsky.social
This should be required reading in every historical methods and social studies classroom. Something very important is being lost. 🗃️🗺️
laurarbelin.bsky.social
Marian Wilson Kimber: It’s painful to realize the people in charge of Iowa’s history apparently have no idea how history works. If they did, they'd know there is no way to predict what parts of the collection will be of interest 5, 20, or 100 years from now. www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/10/10/t...
The theft of history
Marian Wilson Kimber: I have wondered if the box of women’s club programs that changed my life will end up in the dumpster.
www.bleedingheartland.com
amyjay401.bsky.social
This is a really amazing opportunity for grad students and early career scholars. You do teach military history, even if it’s not your field #milhist #academicsky 🗃️
smh-historians.bsky.social
The Call for Applications for the 2026 Summer Seminar in Military History is now live! Application forms, a 2-page Letter of Interest, and CV/Resume are due December 12th.
www.smh-hq.org/summersemina...
Summer Seminar | The Society for Military History
www.smh-hq.org
amyjay401.bsky.social
Haven’t listened to the referenced podcast, but yep, this 🧵 is spot on. Recruiting standards move because they have to, push and pull. And they cannot be extricated from social values. I wrote a whole book on it. #civmil #milhist a.co/d/ftzprwH
Reposted by Amy J. Rutenberg
anthonyclark.bsky.social
If you've done in-person research at any of the following presidential libraries in the last 8 months, can you please follow me/contact me—soon—for a story I'm working on (can be off the record)?

Hoover
FDR
Truman
Eisenhower
JFK
LBJ
Ford
Carter

And either way, can you please share this request? 🙏
amyjay401.bsky.social
I can’t yet parse the details, but when my students student teach, they are fingerprinted and background checked. Dr. Robert’s certainly was, esp since Iowa issued him a superintendent’s license (a requirement of the job).
laurarbelin.bsky.social
Updated post with more context. DSM school district says:
-"third-party comprehensive background check was conducted" when Roberts was hired
-Roberts "completed the I-9 employment eligibility verification form and submitted the required documentation" 1/
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/09/26/i...
ICE detains Des Moines Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts
Iowa's largest school district had "no confirmed information" on why ICE detained Dr. Ian Roberts, the superintendent since 2023.
www.bleedingheartland.com
amyjay401.bsky.social
Hegseth killed DACOWITS, a DOD institution since 1951. Since the 2010s, it’s focused on things like sexual assault prevention and women’s health. This move brings new meaning to the word “lethality,” unfortunately. #civmil www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...
Hegseth terminates women’s advisory group, slams ‘divisive agenda’
A Sept. 17 memo signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directs the “formal disestablishment” of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services.
www.militarytimes.com
Reposted by Amy J. Rutenberg
alicia23.bsky.social
The pres saying that women should avoid Tylenol feels like another way that men are diminishing women and their pain.
amyjay401.bsky.social
And yes, all of the same was true when a sitting democratic lawmaker was murdered in her home, except there were crickets from all the pundits and no one was fired for anything they said. We’re in a bad place, folks. A very bad place.
amyjay401.bsky.social
There is nothing about any of this that isn’t despicable - from Kirk’s murder, to how and why it happened, to celebration of political violence, to the utter hypocrisy of this response. Free speech be damned. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
After Charlie Kirk's death, teachers and professors nationwide fired or disciplined over social media posts
At least a dozen faculty and staff have faced fallout over insensitive comments online.
www.nbcnews.com
amyjay401.bsky.social
But if we use the exact same factors in things like hiring or college admissions decisions, It’s “woke DEI,” discriminatory, and illegal. 🤷🏻‍♀️
nytimes.com
Breaking News: The Supreme Court lifted restrictions on ICE agents in Los Angeles, allowing them to make indiscriminate stops based on factors like ethnicity.
Supreme Court Lifts Restrictions on L.A. Immigration Stops
A federal judge had ordered agents not to make indiscriminate stops relying on factors like a person’s ethnicity or that they speak Spanish.
nyti.ms
Reposted by Amy J. Rutenberg
jfallows.bsky.social
Common theme of people I've interviewed recently. At universities, in research centers, in diplomacy, in the legal system, dealing with refugees or immigrants:

The reality inside is much worse than you would think from the outside.
Reposted by Amy J. Rutenberg
davidfitzgerald.bsky.social
Shameless self-promotion and all of that, but it is genuinely unsettling to see how some of the most cartoonish ideas that I came across while writing the book have turned into actual policy.
amyjay401.bsky.social
The seeds that are currently bearing fruit in a Department of War focused on “maximum lethality” rather than “tepid legality” were planted in 1990s. Time for more folks to read David Fitzgerald’s excellent Uncertain Warriors #milhist #civmil www.cambridge.org/core/books/u...
Uncertain Warriors
Cambridge Core - Military History - Uncertain Warriors
www.cambridge.org
amyjay401.bsky.social
The seeds that are currently bearing fruit in a Department of War focused on “maximum lethality” rather than “tepid legality” were planted in 1990s. Time for more folks to read David Fitzgerald’s excellent Uncertain Warriors #milhist #civmil www.cambridge.org/core/books/u...
Uncertain Warriors
Cambridge Core - Military History - Uncertain Warriors
www.cambridge.org
amyjay401.bsky.social
In case anyone’s wondering, the DOD website now redirects to war.gov and the “narcoterrorists neutralized” was a US bombing of a ship in likely violation of international law.
amyjay401.bsky.social
I’m on chapter 3. I’ve laughed out loud more than once (which maybe is weird for a murder mystery, but 🤷🏻‍♀️). Academic friends, a funny book written by one of our own - and a pretty awesome, smart person. 🗃️ #AcademicSky libro.fm/audiobooks/9...
History Lessons Audiobook on Libro.fm
A college history professor must solve her superstar colleague’s murder before she becomes the next target in this funny, romantic debut mystery, perfect for readers of Janet Evanovich, Kellye Garrett...
libro.fm
amyjay401.bsky.social
Awesome thread 🗺️
jbf1755.bsky.social
Let's do this

Gratitude to history teachers who taught us to love history

I'll start.

Mrs. Paul.
8th grade history teacher
Made us write re: Hamilton & child labor.
Got my attention!
MANY years later I got to thank her for helping me learn to love history
Getting to thank your teachers?
The best!
amyjay401.bsky.social
Or simply not teach in Oklahoma - which definitely feels like it will be good for public schools in Oklahoma 🙄
amyjay401.bsky.social
This whole thread is exhausting. The questions vary between insulting to teachers’ professionalism, trivial, and irrelevant (but requiring a particular set of beliefs). Nothing about actual teacher qualification.
covingtonedu.bsky.social
The Oklahoma Teacher Qualification Test from PragerU is finally up on their website (but you have to at least provide them fake contact info first):

"Educators who pass the test will receive an official PragerU Teacher Certificate..."

www.prageru.com/teacher-qual...
Educators who pass the test will receive an official PragerU Teacher Certificate, symbolizing their commitment to putting students first, honoring parents, and upholding the ideals that have guided generations of Americans

Take the PragerU Teacher Qualification Test
amyjay401.bsky.social
Wanna write about it for us? Or simply share the activity? We’d love to publish it!
amyjay401.bsky.social
I’m already using a version of @drmendozan.bsky.social’s awesome activity in a class this semester (editor’s privilege 😆). Everyone should read this. And then pitch me! Teachingmilitaryhistory.com is a broad tent. We want to share your awesome activities, including grade 6-12 teachers! 🗺️🗃️