Hi everyone! I hope we are all staying warm on this chilly, dreary spring morning. I think last nights class may have been one of my favorite classes. I did not realize how little I knew about Rosa Parks until we did the T chart. Surprisingly, I was not the only one who did not know much. The sources we were able to look at really brought into perspective how much African Americans had to tolerate even when they were paying the same amount as the white people. The fact that they had to pay and then exit the bus and enter through a rear door is so degrading and unnecessary. I wonder why schools do not teach you that Rosa was not in fact in the white section of the bus and was actually justified in sitting where she was. Is that to make it look like she was actually guilty of a crime or to sugar coat the fact that the white people had no regard for the law and would change it to fit their needs. Looking at the text book inserts about Rosa Parks makes her seem so unimportant and that she was in the wrong.<\/p>\n
I enjoyed looking at the artifacts from Frederick Stohr. Looking at his report cards and what they were graded on was interesting. We were able as a class to see what his life entailed from elementary school and through his time serving in the second world war. I loved that he kept all the letters that his family sent him. My grandfather landed on the beaches of Normandy for D-Day and I wish I could go back and listen to his stories. As a kid I would run off when he started talking.<\/p>\n
So my question is, how can we as educators make sure that we are teaching history accurately when we were not taught accurately? It would be difficult for us to dig up sources for each topic that we teach. I know that my future students will know that Rosa Parks in fact was not sitting in the wrong seat. I will also use a picture of the bus to show where she was sitting and so they will remember that in the future. I think sources like that will help them remember in the future.<\/p>\n
I hope you all have a great week!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi everyone! I hope we are all staying warm on this chilly, dreary spring morning. I think last nights class may have been one of my favorite classes. I did not realize how little I knew about Rosa Parks until … Continue reading