New program from Seattle University: Teaching Civil Rights

Education about civil rights in America's K-12 schools is seriously inadequate. According to an analysis by the Southern Poverty Law Center, most states received a "D" or "F" grade for the quality of their curricula on civil rights history. Washington State received a "D."

In response to this crisis, the Poverty Education Center at Seattle University has teamed with the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Pipeline Project at the University of Washington to train student teachers to deliver lessons about civil rights in Seattle-area K-12 schools. Undergraduate teaching majors at SU are studying with professors who are experts on civil rights history. They are also receiving trainings in culturally competent pedagogy. This cadre of student educators will develop lessons on key aspects of civil rights history, and then partner with cooperating teachers to deliver those lessons in schools.

The lessons are designed to fit easily into existing social studies and other classes. The student teachers can deliver the lessons in one or more class sessions. Cooperating teachers need only provide the class they feel would be most appropriate for the lesson--but they are certainly welcome to participate in whatever way they would like. Student teachers will be available to visit classrooms in April and May.

For any questions about the program, please contact Dr. Ben Curtis at Seattle University: curtisb@seattleu.edu

Kristin's note: Ben has been working with us as we develop the 7th grade Mission Institute. We are grateful for his partnership and look forward to connecting with him for new opportunities to help our students deepen their understanding of social justice and our response through the lens of our Catholic faith.