Facing History & Ourselves was born, in part, from the disjointed experience founder Margot Stern Strom faced growing up in racially segregated Memphis, Tennessee.
While she was learning about historical events in school, history-making events were also unfolding outside of her classroom. How were these current events informed, influenced, or related to events of the past? How could students like Margot understand the impact of the outside world within the context of their classrooms if the reality of the outside world wasn’t discussed or even acknowledged? And what role can and should teachers play in helping students bridge this disconnect?
“[A] good teacher is a good learner. It's that ongoing learning [that] is actually part of the craft of teaching, that is part of what makes effective teaching.”
- Dimitry Anselme
In a recent episode of George Washington University’s EdFix podcast, “Teaching Difficult History in Troublesome Times”, Facing History’s Chief Officer for Program & Thought Leadership Abby Weiss and Executive Program Director Dimitry Anselme discuss why continuous learning is a critical element of effective teaching. In particular, they touch on how Facing History’s resources, such as our mini-lessons and units developed in rapid response to current events, help educators navigate the effects of an increasingly polarized world on the classroom environment.
“We take seriously the responsibility for helping teachers navigate what's happening in the world right now.”
- Abby Weiss
Listen to the full EdFix episode and visit our resource library for helpful current events lesson plans, teaching guides, and more.
