Making The Case For Diversity

The argument for a more diverse curriculum is built on the philosophy that culture matters. Students know their own culture, beliefs and values.  What they often do not have is an understanding of the cultures and experiences of groups other than themselves.  We cannot depend on families to fully and accurately educate children about the experiences of other groups of people or to produce a culturally diverse education.  Some might question why they should learn about these “other” people.  The fact that people are asking that question illustrates the need to learn more.  Having a diverse curriculum exposes children to values, achievements and struggles of people other than themselves.  In learning about others, students will find many commonalities among their experiences.

By the time students arrive in the classroom they have all developed some idea of how society works from the confines of their own homes.  The knowledge we learn in our homes needs to be integrated with the experiences and perspectives of different people.  Classrooms should be the place where we foster connections, understandings and examine who we really are as a country.  Exposure to a diverse curriculum helps to achieve this goal.

 

Diversifying the High School Curriculum

In Connecticut,High schools will be required to offer Black and Latino studies courses.  Governor Ned Lamont called it "Long overdue." 

Similarly in 2014, El Rancho Unified School District became the first school in California to adopt an ethnic studies class as a graduation requirement.  Since this trailblazing High School adjusted their graduation requirements many high schools across the country have followed their lead.    

Borinqueneers 65th Infantry

The Puerto Rican experience during World War II and the Korean War is not usually studied in Middle School Social Studies classrooms.  The Borinqueneers or the sixty fifth infantry were involved in Europe during World War II and Seoul during the Korean War.  

When the Korean War began sixty one thousand soldiers from Puerto Rico (almost all volunteers) signed up to support the war effort.  The Borinqueneers were sent straight to the front lines within two months of the start of the war and remained in Korea for years.  In January 1951 they successfully overthrew armies to control important mountain tops in Seoul.   Seven hundred and forty seven were killed in action and one hundred and twenty five silver stars were awarded to this unit.      

761st Tank Battalion: Come Out Fighting

The 761st Tank Battalion played a significant role in World War II.  It was an all Black military unit that endured racism on the home front and the brutality of war in Europe. During the Battle of the Bulge George Patton ordered them into the heart of German held territory.  Their advance played a pivotal role in winning the conflict.  Their courage and strength led them to unite to with Soviet forces earlier then other units.  According to a 1991 documentary entitled "The Liberators" the 761st were the first to liberate Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps.  In total, the 761st spent one hundred and eighty three days on the front lines.  They fought in France, Belgium, Germany and Austria.  Despite their heroism decades went by with any formal recognition. Here is an interview discussing their strength: Black Panthers. I especially like how the interview ends with Major General Patrick Donahoe expressing appreciation for the battalion and recognition that diversity makes us stronger. 

Sonia Weitz: Holocaust Poetry

Teaching the Holocaust can be a very difficult subject to discuss and teach in the classroom.  I often share images of the concentration camps and use document based questions.   Reading and analyzing the poetry of Sonia Weitz conveys the depth of horror and its devastating effects.  

Here is an excerpt from In Memory to My Mother, By Sonia Weitz

I promised I would 

Tell the world...

But where to find the words

To speak of

Innocence and love,

And tell how much it hurts...

  

Six Triple Eight

 During World War II (1945), a unit of the Women's Army Corps delivered for the troops.  The Army battalion of African American women played an important role to boost the troops' morale.  After the Normandy invasion logistical problems were common.  Processing mail for soldiers whose locations changed daily was an arduous task.  This battalion began with 855 members and grew to the thousands.  The women worked round the clock in eight hour shifts.  They managed and processed approximately 65,000 pieces of mail per session. They cleared a massive back log of mail stored in airplane hangers.  The women of the 6888th slept in separate barracks and ate in separate mess halls from the rest of the troops.  They came home to no parades, no speeches, and no recognition.  (Funny Note: There were 7,500 Robert Smiths to identify).  Interview with Lena King, WWII Vet, 6888th Mail Battalion.

Swimmy

Heroes use their strength and their knowledge.  Teaching Tolerance published an article entitled Not All Heroes Fight discussing the concept of using a famous children's book as a springboard to discuss heroes. Swimmy is a great model for discussing how people and society can work together to achieve a goal. I wrote a similar article about using children's books and movies to illustrate social studies concepts

Making Afterschool Cool

 I was recently interviewed for the Making Afterschool Cool podcast.

Listen to my interview here.

Interview with an Unsung Hero

Jerry LeVias was the first black athlete to play for the Southern Methodist football team in Texas.  He played in the late sixties when the Civil Rights movement was struggling.  In this interview, he talks about his experience as the first black athlete on the football field and how he overcame hate. He highlights how important it is to control your emotions when confronted by hate.  In addition, LeVias discusses how important it is for educators and families to discuss discrimination and injustice. 

Book Review: Inside Out & Back Again

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai is a great historical fiction novel written in verse.   The main character, Kim Ha, is a young girl whose tightly knit family struggled through the Vietnam War.  The Ha family is forced out of the country they love when Saigon falls and basic essentials run out.  Her family leaves Vietnam and hopes for better life in America (Alabama).  This book illustrates how hard life can be for refugees while highlighting the culture and customs of Vietnam.  The internal and external struggles of Kim offer a compelling lesson for any classroom. Here is an excerpt from the novel:

            "No one would believe me

        but at times

           I would choose 

           wartime in Saigon

        over

               peacetime in Alabama."

Henrietta Boggs

Henrietta Boggs was a women's rights activist who promoted social justice.  Henrietta Boggs was born in Alabama, where racial division in the early 1920's provided for a very sheltered childhood.  She was formally educated and surrounded by inequality.  While studying in college, she traveled to South America and fell in love with a local farmer.  She cast aside her pampered southern lifestyle at the age of 23 to marry Jose Figueres Ferer.  Her husband was a vocal supporter of governmental reform in Costa Rica. The couple was forced into political exile for their resistance.   Despite the danger, they smuggled arms into Costa Rica to support the growing revolution.  For their leadership during rebellion Ferer was elected President of Costa Rica in 1953.  Boggs became the first lady.  Under pressure from his wife,  Figueres granted women and Afro-Costa Ricans the right to vote.  During her years as first lady she assisted and eased countries poverty problems.  After she separated from her husband she moved back to Alabama where she supported the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the civil rights movement. 

Chinese Suffragette

 Mabel Ping Hua Lee was an advocate for women’s rights.  She encouraged education and civic participation of Chinese women of all ages.  Her efforts in support of the suffrage movement were very important to the passage of the 19th amendment and are often not recognized by the textbooks.  She helped organize the suffrage parade (May 4th, 1912) in New York City which drew thousands of supporters.  In addition, she wrote persuasive articles stressing the importance of voting rights and equal opportunities for women that were read by thousands.  Last, it is important to point out that she was NOT granted the right to vote until the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943.  Her efforts to ensure women’s rights were historic and the fact that she was unable to vote until 1943 is very upsetting. 

How to Broaden Students' Sense of History

 Article discussing more diverse and authentic voices.  Read the article here. 

How to Broaden Students' Sense of History

Sept/2020

Book Review: The Nickel Boys

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead is a great historical fiction novel.  The main character, Elwood, is an eager student whose commitment to education lands him in an abusive reform school.     While a work of fiction, this book is based on the true story of the Dozier School in Florida.   The story of Elwood and the people surrounding him are very compelling.  The book illustrates the injustice of the criminal justice system as well as the realities of racial prejudice in the 1960's.    With complex and often disturbing content, The Nickel Boys is sure to incite thought-provoking discussions in any high school class.   

Elaine Arkansas Massacre

In the fall of 1919 one the worst racial massacres  in U.S. history occurred in Elaine, Arkansas.  On the evening of September 30th black sharecropping families gathered in the Hoop Spur church in Elaine.  They were in the process of organizing, unionizing and hiring a lawyer to improve their standard of living.  At the end of the meeting, two white men shot into the church. The black guards returned fire.  The exchange of bullets led to the death of one white man.  The reaction to this death was brutal and swift.  According to many eyewitnesses in Elaine, bodies were buried in pits, bodies hung from bridges and countless numbers of black people were murdered.  Americans have yet to recognize this event in Arkansas.   

A More Complex Women's History

Students have a more accurate view of who we are as a country when we elevate and highlight overlooked history.   This article, A More Complex Women's History,  discusses the benefits of extending the narrative of women in American history.  Students deserve to study a more accurate and balanced history.

Virginia Hall

Virginia Hall was a successful undercover agent in a very tenuous time during World War II.
She served as an Ambassador to a European country during many acts of German imperialism. After living in Europe for many years she had a well rounded knowledge of European customs and languages.  While working as an ambassador in Europe she hurt herself in a hunting accident.  The accident left her an amputee.  After losing her job due to the accident, she drove an ambulance in France during the German take over.  When she was leaving France for safety,  she was recruited by a new spy agency created by Winston Churchill, the Special Operations Executive Unit (SOE.)    While under cover in France she orchestrated a prison break of twelve captive Allied agents caught by the Nazis.  She created a network of resistance fighters that destroyed bridges and infrastructure which slowed the Nazi take over of France.  Virginia Hall was a hero.


Source: A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell

Octavius Catto

The battle for equal rights in America is an ongoing struggle.    From the Civil War to today.  Over the years some protesters have received more attention then others.  Octavius Catto was a Civil Rights leader that is often left out of Civil Rights discussions.   He was born in South Carolina.   His family moved north when he was a child.  He enrolled in school and educated himself at the Institute for Colored Youth and in Washington D.C.  He studied Latin and Greek and went on to become a teacher.  In the summer of 1863,  he successfully helped the Union recruit black regiments.  Although he did not fight in the Civil War, he was awarded the rank of Major for his efforts.  After the Civil War he organized protests against segregation laws in the public transit system of Philadelphia.  He also worked to register black people to vote in the election of 1871.  While working for political equality he was targeted by local party bosses and shot in cold blood.  His work was inspired and courageous.   I found this in an article referencing the book Tasting Freedom: Catto and the Battle for Equality in the Civil War America.

Alaska Territorial Guard

German and Japanese imperialism were the main causes of World War II.  When Japan began building its territory the U.S. Army was alarmed.  When the Japanese raided and occupied parts of Alaska the U.S Army responded with the development of the Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG). The goal of the ATG was to be the “eyes and ears” of the U.S. Army during a very tenuous time.  The ATG recruited six thousand three hundred unpaid volunteers.  They trekked hundreds of miles across western Alaska.  These Alaskan Natives' contribution to the war effort in 1941 was valuable and brave.  They were prepared to defend their homeland and deserve more recognition.    

Sylvia Mendez

When it comes to striking down "separate but equal" most people think of Brown v Board of Education (1954).   But this was not the first time "separate but equal" was struck down. Mendez v Westminister struck it down in 1947. Sylvia Mendez is often forgotten by the history books.  She was a young Mexican girl who grew up in California during the 1940's.   Mendez had to attend a Mexican school which was strikingly inadequate compared to white schools.  In her Mexican school boys were introduced to agricultural labor and girls were taught house keeping.  Her petition to integrate the schools was heard by the Supreme Court over a 2 year span (1944-1946). 

There is a illustrated children's book entitled Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tontaiuh.  The book is about Sylvia Mendez and California segregation. 

Book Review: Ghost Boys

I have a great children's literature suggestion that seems especially timely.  Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes.  Teaching history from alternative points of view sheds light on new internal and external conflicts. 

Ruby Bradley

Nurses often work in the shadows of inspiring heroes and receive significantly less appreciation. Their work is  instrumental to any standing army.   West Virginia Army nurse Ruby Bradley’s record is one for the ages.  Her accomplishments and actions are inspiring and brave.  Bradley served as a combat nurse and a prisoner of war in the Philippines during World War II.  She assisted in hundreds of major operations on battlefields and was awarded two bronze stars.  She risked her life on many  occasions. She was one of the most decorated nurses in military history.  She was known as the ‘Angel in Fatigues.’  

Triple Nickles

The Triple Nickles (555th) were created during World War II.  The 555th were named after an infantry of Buffalo soldiers from the late 1800’s.  This colored unit was subject to racist laws and intolerance.  African American’s served in strictly supportive roles for the white soldiers at Fort Benning. Until Walter Morris decided to enact change.  He wrote a letter to his superiors suggesting the formation of an all black airborne unit.  He expected negative feedback or to be fired.  Instead he was granted his wish.  The white officers did not think they would last.  The group of soldiers were organized and rigorously trained. The group began with seventy volunteers and grew to the thousands.  In 1945 the Triple Nickles were used in Operation Firefly.  They fought fires in the Pacific Northwest set ablaze by thousands of Japanese balloon bombs  They were pioneers in combating forest fires.  Soon the Triple Nickles would be known as “Smokejumpers.”   They succeeded when no one thought they would.  His expression, “This is my county, This is my duty, This is my responsibility,” is powerful.

Lowell Milken Center

Unsung Hero Museum
Great source of Information.

Diverse Curricula and Unsung Heroes

The Case for More Diverse School Curricula is very important to student achievement.  This concept is widely accepted and valued. This article by Joshua Ddamulira highlights clinical research and highlights benefits of more perspectives.  It references the Third World Liberation Front that fought for a more inclusive program and won in 1968 in California.  Highlighting unsung heroes achieves this goal. (Jan.11th, 2018 article from New America Weekly)

Roosevelt Franklin

Roosevelt Franklin was designed and voiced by Matt Robinson to represent Black youth on Sesame Street.  He appeared on the show in the 1970s.  People still remember him today.  I believe we should communicate with children in whatever ways they understand.  Including unsung heroes achieves that goal.  Children need to see themselves in history lessons.

Patsy Mink: Hawaiian Trailblazer

In 1970, Patsy Takemoto Mink came before the Senate for the hearing of George Carswell, a Supreme Court Nominee.  She was the first non-white and Asian American women elected to Congress in 1964.  She was a representative from Hawaii and a graduate from the University of Chicago.  Her work brought to the light the inequalities of women in the workforce. The judge she opposed for the Supreme Court refused to hear a case based on gender inequality.   Mink’s work drew attention to the unfair treatment of women in the United States.  She pushed for legislation to support better children care and early childhood.  She was an independently minded person who was not scared to speak her mind.  She served in Congress for 12 years and overcame tremendous obstacles in her lifetime.   Her work as a trailblazing politician is often overlooked.     

Barrio Soldiers

American history is filled with men and women who have been forgotten and marginalized.  Another group of soldiers you may not have heard of hailed from the barrios of Texas.  After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, this group of Latinos volunteered for World War II.  They served in the 141st Infantry E Company.  Students need to see diverse perspectives .  When students read about heroes from their own heritage it instills a sense of pride.  In addition, when students learn about heroes from different cultures it instills an increased sense of appreciation.  

Unsung Suffragettes

 Women's Suffrage

Think Globally, Highlight Locally

Celebrate your community's suffragists.

March/April 2020 www.nysut.org

Civil Rights Leaders & Labor Leaders

In 1957 the Little Rock Public School was the center of attention during the Civil Rights movement.  Nine brave souls fought for justice and equality.  The Little Rock Nine  are very well studied and honored.  In class I usually play the video of the United States Army escorting them into school.  But did you know it was also the location for en epic equal pay law suit.  African American teachers in Arkansas were paid significantly unequally.  White teachers in high school were paid $856 annually while black high school teachers were paid $567 annually. White elementary teachers were paid $526 annually while black elementary teachers were paid $331 annually.   Sue Cowan Morris fought for equal pay for African American teachers alongside the NAACP.
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Also check out Harriet Elizabeth Brown  another Labor Leader who pushed for equality for teachers.

A Hero Survivor

In 1942 William Dyess was in the South Pacific when Japan invaded the Philippines.  He crash landed on the coast of Philippines and was captured by the Japanese.  The fight was fierce and deadly.  During the battle 75,000 American and Filipino soldiers surrendered on Bataan.  Dyess was one of them.  He survived the Bataan Death March and witnessed the beatings and murder of captive soldiers.   After reaching a prison camp with no care and supplies he organized a brave escape and spread the news of the atrocities.  He is a hero for the ages.

San Francisco Sit-in

An effective tool for civil disobedience is the sit-in.   It  sends a powerful message and usually sparks legislative change.  The sit in's in Greensboro, North Carolina are well discussed and  analyzed.  The images from the Woolworth's service counter are legendary. The courage and strength of these young men and women are well recorded.   Here is another lesser know sit-in. A group of activists lobbied for the government to pass section 504.  This law protected the right of people with disabilities.  Judith Heumann led the epic sit in of a federal building.  She is a unsung hero that is often overlooked. This sit in for disability rights in San Francisco carried on for 25 days!  Judith Heumann fought intolerance and won.  In the classroom I compare these the two epic sit-ins.