Education

Whitewashing Our Past: A Proposal for a National Campaign to Rethink Textbooks

Background Reading for Teachers PDF. By Bob Peterson. 4 pages.
A critique of social studies textbooks and the rationale for a campaign to rethink them.

Education, Individuals in US History, Racism & Racial Identity

Discovering Columbus: Re-reading the Past

Teaching Activity PDF. By Bill Bigelow. 6 pages.
How to engage students in a critical analysis of the textbook version of “discovery.”

Education, Imperialism, Individuals in US History, Native American

Re-examining the Revolution

Background Reading PDF. By Ray Raphael. 7 pages.
Based on his book Founding Myths, Raphael critiques the textbook portrayal of the American Revolution. The textbooks say that “a few special people forged American freedom” which “misrepresents, and even contradicts, the spirit of the American Revolution.”

Democracy & Citizenship, Education, Individuals in US History, Laws & Citizen Rights

Presidents and Slaves: Helping Students Find the Truth

Teaching Activity PDF. By Bob Peterson. 7 pages.
How a 5th grade teacher and his students conducted research to answer the question: “Which presidents owned people?”

African American, Education, Individuals in US History, Racism & Racial Identity, Slavery

On the Road to Cultural Bias: A Critique of The Oregon Trail

Background Reading for Teachers PDF. By Bill Bigelow. 13 pages.

Education, Native American, Racism & Racial Identity, Women's History

Testing, Tracking, and Toeing the Line: A Role Play on the Origins of the Modern High School

Teaching Activity PDF. By Bill Bigelow. 13 pages.
A role play on the origins of the modern high school.

Democracy & Citizenship, Education, Immigration, Racism & Racial Identity, Social Class

One Country! One Language! One Flag!

Teaching Activity PDF. By Bill Bigelow. 3 pages.
Discussion questions and teaching ideas for examining the history of the Pledge of Allegiance and the political milieu in which it was written.

Democracy & Citizenship, Education, Immigration

The Truth About Helen Keller

Background Reading for Teachers and High School Students - PDF. By Ruth Shagoury. 6 pages.
A review of children’s picture books about the life of Helen Keller reveals that the omission of any description of her active role in key social movements of the 20th century.

Education, Individuals in US History, Women's History

The Singing Strike and the Rebel Students: Learning from the Industrial Workers of the World

Reading for Teachers PDF. By Bill Bigelow. 7 pages.
Author describes how students applied strategies from the Lawrence strike to their own present day activism.

Education, Labor, Social Class