Instructor: Karl Menninger

No image available Biography:

Karl Menninger is a retired government lawyer who has found an avocation teaching courses on disability law, citizenship, comedy and James Bond, among other topics.

Classes by this instructor


Beyond the Trenches: World War I Fronts in Italy, Eastern Europe, Turkey and Africa

You may be familiar with the World War I battles on the Western Front, where France and Great Britain (and later the U.S.) fought Germany in the trenches. But there was a reason it was called a World War. We will explore battles that were fought on other fronts, involving Russia, the Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary and African colonies. We'll also discuss the Polar Bear Expedition: What were U.S. troops doing in Siberia? Instructor Bio: Karl Menninger is a retired government lawyer who has found an avocation teaching courses on disability law, citizenship, comedy and James Bond, among other topics.
November 10, 2026 to December 1, 2026, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

Disability Issues: The ADA, Criminal Justice and End-of-Life Ethics

This class, taught by a disability law professor, will explore three different aspects of disability law and ethics. Topics include a review of the Americans with Disabilities Act and how the legislation has both evolved to meet the needs of people with disabilities as well as additional legislative changes that are needed to ensure equitable access. Students will also learn about how disabilities, including the insanity defense, play into legal defense, conviction and sentencing. The final class will explore how disability rights impact end-of-life decision making. Instructor Bio: Karl Menninger is a retired government lawyer who has found an avocation teaching courses on disability law, citizenship, comedy and James Bond, among other topics.
September 3-17, 2026, KU Edwards Campus, Regnier Hall & Online

The Samurai: From Legendary Warrior to Cultural Icon

Get ready to trace the history of the samurai class in Japan, its distinctive weapons, armor, code of behavior and its part in Japanese history. We'll also look at the samurai in Japanese pop culture, from books to movies (including "The Seven Samurai" and other films), to manga and anime. We'll expand our discussion to non-Japanese books and films about samurai ("Shogun," "The Last Samurai"), re-makes of Japanese samurai films ("The Magnificent Seven," "A Fistful of Dollars") or modern-day people who live by the samurai code ("Ghost Dog," "Le Samourai"), video games with samurai and how to tell the difference between a samurai and a ninja. Instructor Bio: Karl Menninger is a retired government lawyer who has found an avocation teaching courses on disability law, citizenship, comedy and James Bond, among other topics.
October 13-27, 2026, Brewster Place Cultural Arts Center

The Vietnam War and Modern Memory

The war was the subject of several books and movies. Some stories were told while the war was going on, and others years after the last troops left Saigon. How well did they reflect that time? We'll discuss the conduct of war, the soldiers who fought and how it affected the nation.
Instructor Bio: Karl Menninger retired from a legal career in federal and state government, mostly dealing with issues concerning persons with disabilities. He teaches courses on disabilities and the law and the insanity defense at the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law.
October 9-23, 2026, Maple Woods Community College Campus Center Building Classroom 110