Teacher Workshop

A group of Facing the Past teachers gathered at the Shikaya offices for a two day follow-up session of development during the  vacation, March 29th & 30th. These teachers comprised of two previously separate groups who had gone through a thorough introductory workshop in 2009 and 2008 respectively.

The workshop made  use of  Facing History and Ourselves  resources “Choices in Little Rock” and the Eyes on the Prize DVD series.  Teachers focused on one particular crisis during the Civil Rights movement: the efforts to desegregate Central High school in 1957. They journeyed from individual and group identity in the US, because it has such a huge impact on how people were to see themselves in relation to others during the crisis in Little Rock. The legal basis for first segregation, and then school desegregation in 1954, were huge discussion points during the workshop. But it was the actual choices people – from the Little Rock nine to the community to fellow students to school authorities, right up to the federal and state governments made, which exposed the valuable lesson that individual choices shape a society.

In conclusion the workshop looked at how do the choices individuals make, individually and collectively shape a society? A study of the people and events of the days leading up to the event and the days thereafter, shows how various people, faced with the same dilemma, make their own choices. It also shows that people do indeed make different and courageous choices when faced with an issue which has its roots in a society divided by race.

Lets teach our learners, through the content, about civic responsibility, and that their choices do matter! (Janine Kaptein)

Below are  some extracts from some of the participants’ journal entries:

“When society is built, the basis upon which society is built would be the choices. Choices have consequences; the consequences would be the creation.”

“It will develop learners to be considerate and concerned about others.”

“The resources and methodology is extremely useful in helping learners to understand the importance of individual choices, even ordinary people can have far reaching consequences.”