Facing History Plays Important Role in Colorado Schools

Last month, the New York Times reported that students' knowledge of the civil rights movement is in decline, and that Colorado earned an "F" in teaching about the era. Facing History and Ourselves’ associate program director for Denver and the Rocky Mountain States David Fulton, Ph.D. and that office’s chairman of the board John Katzenberg wrote an op-ed in response. Published in the Denver Post, the piece highlights the ways in which Facing History educates students and teachers in the Colorado schools about the civil rights—and about other important histories.

“We believe that only through education can we combat racism, antisemitism, and bigotry and help students make informed ethical decisions,” they wrote in the op-ed. “We will continue to reach out to Colorado educators who know the best way to help students make moral choices that strengthen our democracy today is to look critically at choices made in the past, including those during the Civil Rights era.”

Read the op-ed “Colorado’s Failing Grade,” on Denverpost.com.

Learn more about our work in Denver and the Rocky Mountain States.