I am feeling so many things having come to the end of a week of working with some of the most talented and ambitious teachers from around the country at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. These twenty participants took time out of their much deserved summer break to learn about the history and legacy of the Civil War and Reconstruction.
"Rather than restricting our teachers and creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in their lives, we should be uplifting our teachers by providing them with the resources that they need to engage students around the tough questions."
Hear, hear!
I share your confidence about the teachers - it's the school boards and state governments that worry me. Those just go to show the importance of voting in every election at every level.
Despite the lag in their salaries, especially in public schools, teachers always search out ways - on their own time and with their own money - to enrich their students' learning experiences.
KML's experience in Ford's Theater reminds me that 8 summers ago, wife and I were in Coloma, where in 1848 some men were digging a ditch on a construction project. They found a lump of yellow stone; a North Carolina woman identified it as gold (in 1799 the first American gold rush occurred there, and she knew a gold-identifying technique, using lye soap). Now it's a state park commemorating the California Gold Rush.
We chatted with a group of Georgians at the park. They were high school teachers, paying their own way to learn history to teach their students. I asked one, named Susan Lee, what would be the next stop on their tour? She told me they'd be in San Francisco's Chinatown, at the Chinese Historical Society.
I told them they would not only be in for a treat (we were members!), but Sue would be in for a special treat. She would find her doppelganger there: the founder and Executive Director was Chinatown-born Sue Lee!
I did. I was trying to point out the importance of acknowledging and exploring a wide range of stories in our classrooms. I don't know how you can do this work without being positive for the future.
Your week sounds amazing, Kevin. Thanks for sharing the update with us. I remain hopeful, too. Teachers are the absolute best, aren't they? In the spirit of full transparency, my son is a DC public school teacher. #proudmomalert
It was an incredibly rewarding and exhausting week. Glad to hear your son is in the classroom in D.C. I wish him all the best in the coming school year.
"Rather than restricting our teachers and creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in their lives, we should be uplifting our teachers by providing them with the resources that they need to engage students around the tough questions."
Hear, hear!
I share your confidence about the teachers - it's the school boards and state governments that worry me. Those just go to show the importance of voting in every election at every level.
Uplifting column.
Despite the lag in their salaries, especially in public schools, teachers always search out ways - on their own time and with their own money - to enrich their students' learning experiences.
KML's experience in Ford's Theater reminds me that 8 summers ago, wife and I were in Coloma, where in 1848 some men were digging a ditch on a construction project. They found a lump of yellow stone; a North Carolina woman identified it as gold (in 1799 the first American gold rush occurred there, and she knew a gold-identifying technique, using lye soap). Now it's a state park commemorating the California Gold Rush.
We chatted with a group of Georgians at the park. They were high school teachers, paying their own way to learn history to teach their students. I asked one, named Susan Lee, what would be the next stop on their tour? She told me they'd be in San Francisco's Chinatown, at the Chinese Historical Society.
I told them they would not only be in for a treat (we were members!), but Sue would be in for a special treat. She would find her doppelganger there: the founder and Executive Director was Chinatown-born Sue Lee!
Gold is where you find it.
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for sharing this story.
Did you mean to say “We impressed upon them the importance of complicating the narrative?”
I’m glad you feel hope. God bless them all for their effort. It is important work!
I did. I was trying to point out the importance of acknowledging and exploring a wide range of stories in our classrooms. I don't know how you can do this work without being positive for the future.
proud of you son
Your week sounds amazing, Kevin. Thanks for sharing the update with us. I remain hopeful, too. Teachers are the absolute best, aren't they? In the spirit of full transparency, my son is a DC public school teacher. #proudmomalert
It was an incredibly rewarding and exhausting week. Glad to hear your son is in the classroom in D.C. I wish him all the best in the coming school year.