On December 26, 1799, Henry Lee delivered the immortal words that George Washington was “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” This was undoubtedly true—200 years ago. Today, the power of the name has faded, and come Monday we are more likely to celebrate Presidents’ Day sales than we are the presidents themselves. And although the federal holiday remains “Washington’s Birthday” … Read more »
With the federal holiday celebrating George Washington’s birthday just around the corner—on Monday, February 18—it’s a good time to raise the question: Do we celebrate Washington’s Birthday or Presidents’ Day? This introduction to Washington’s Birthday comes from our new ebook on the holiday; check back here later today for complete readings.
Remembering the birthday of George Washington—February 22, 1732—should be a particularly cherished national obligation. Americans celebrated Washington’s Birthday … Read more »
As we continue our celebration of Black History Month, have students read and discuss Cornel West’s essay “The Moral Obligations of Living in a Democratic Society.” In the essay, West, a professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, examines the need for members of a democracy to understand their common history in order to take seriously their obligations to the future of their democratic order. West is … Read more »
Over at their “Closer Readings” blog on Thinkfinity, NEH EDSITEment has just posted a list of resources for teachers looking to incorporate literature and primary texts about Black History Month while meeting the demands of the Common Core English Language Arts Standards. As EDSITEment notes, “the Common Core’s English Language Arts Standards will shift the learning emphasis to frequent student engagement with reading complex informational texts and their … Read more »
On Tuesday, we attended a presentation and panel discussion hosted by the Center for American Progress about the impact that Common Core assessments will have on teacher evaluation and professional development. Since so many of our readers are teachers who use and will be affected by the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), here are some highlights from the conference.
Peter Youngs, an associate professor of education at Michigan … Read more »
The nation’s 40th president was born on this day in history 102 years ago: February 6, 1911. Ronald Reagan, who died in 2004, grew up in Tampico, Illinois, worked his way through college, and then moved to Hollywood to become an actor in his late twenties. After appearing in over 50 films, he served as president of the Screen Actors Guild, became a conservative radio host, and was elected … Read more »
As we’ve noted, February is Black History Month—a great time to examine and celebrate the lives of African Americans who have fought for equal rights. As such, take some time to read and discuss President Barack Obama’s recent presidential proclamation in which he lays out the reasons why we set aside the month to celebrate African American history. How does the president suggest that we honor those who … Read more »
Distinguished scholar-teachers Amy and Leon Kass demonstrate how short stories, speeches, and songs can be used to enhance civic education and how a pedagogical approach that stresses learning through inquiry can make primary sources come alive for students of all ages.
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