Teaching Tolerance

"America is woven of many strands. I would recognize them and let it so remain. Our fate is to become one, and yet many. This is not prophecy, but description." - Ralph Ellison



Each year - before we begin to "dig in" to history - I ask my students to think about WHY we study history.

I get the typical:
*Because we have to...
*Because you said so...
the occasional:
*Because it teaches us about where we come from...
*Because we can learn from the past....

I think that we study history because it's a road map for how people can become the best version of themselves. Coupled with the horrors of slavery we have the bravery of abolition. The horrible exploitation of industrialization elicited the compassion of the Progressive Movement. Years of segregation gave birth to the Civil Rights Movement. It's easy to become mired down in examining the negative of history and there's a place for bringing these truths to light. It's important to also value the absolute beautiful bravery of those who time and again refused to give up or give in to this negativity.


Check out Teaching Tolerance - this magazine and the supporting materials made available online are supported by the Southern Poverty Law Center. (The Ralph Ellison quote above is included in a set of posters I have from this organization....a quote which I discussed with some students today -- reminding me why I love history and my job.)