Choices and History: Facing History in Beachwood, Ohio

The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation’s bi-annual newsletter, Pro Excellentia, recently featured a Facing History and Ourselves classroom in Beachwood, Ohio. Greg Deegan, a Facing History teacher at Beachwood High School, leads the elective Human Rights and Conflicts course.

“We’re asking kids to think about themselves and the choices they make while studying history,” said Deegan, who has been involved with Facing History for 12 years. “This is a class where we really wrestle with difficult issues. We’re engaging in conversations so the students can clarify their own thinking.”

Since 1999, Facing History and Ourselves has been involved in five counties in northeast Ohio and has trained more than 900 teachers.

The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation has supported Facing History’s work with teachers for nearly 10 years.

Read “Taking A Stand: Relevant History,” in Pro Excellentia (page 6-7).

Learn more about Facing History’s work across Ohio.

Learn more about the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.