College students become Civil Rights era teachers in innovative partnership program

College students become Civil Rights era teachers in innovative partnership program
Whitman College, in partnership with the Southern Poverty Law Center and Walla Walla Public Schools, is coordinating the Whitman Teaches the Movement initiative to enhance civil rights education for Walla Walla students in grades 2, 5, 7 and 11 to coincide with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Whitman College students, working in small groups, will travel to all 10 local schools Jan. 19-20 and 23-24 to lead 45 minute lessons on civil rights education. The lessons are age-appropriate and based on curriculum developed by the Southern Poverty Law Center, history teachers and organizations which specialize in teaching history.

The participating college students hail from 17 states and two foreign nations. They have volunteered their time and efforts, which included training sessions held in December by Kate Shuster an education researcher for the Southern Poverty Law Center.

"When students learn about the civil rights movement they learn what it is like to be American," said Shuster. "It shows students it is possible to struggle against great injustices and emerge victorious."

Student Lessons by Grade Level:
- Second Grade: Greensboro lunch counter sit-ins
- Fifth Grade: Jackie Robinson
- Seventh Grade: Women in the civil rights movement
- Eleventh Grade: Dr. Kings Letter from Birmingham Jail

The Southern Poverty Law Center reports its research has discovered two-thirds of all states, including Washington, fail at teaching a milestone period in American history -- the civil rights movement.

Walla Walla Public Schools Superintendent Mick Miller says collaborating with Whitman College on this project allows the district to enhance learning opportunities and better utilize a valued and trusted community asset.

"We chose to participate in the Whitman Teaches the Movement project because we wanted our students to learn more about the civil rights movement, have strong role models in our classrooms, and to strengthen our ties to Whitman College," Miller said.

Noah Leavitt, Whitman assistant dean for student engagement, is managing the college's involvement in the program and says this is "an extraordinary opportunity for Whitman students to address real world issues of non-discrimination, justice and citizenship in a way that enables them to serve and engage with our community."

Walla Walla Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Linda Boggs says the project supports the districts curriculum and provides a venue for Walla Walla students to interact with college role models.

"I am especially excited about the custom-designed grade-level lessons and materials," said Boggs. "Additionally, having college students as guest teachers provides an opportunity for our students to get a real life glimpse into 'college,' as many students, especially younger ones, may know college as a word but not have a clear picture of what it might look like."