November 16, 2022
- Politics in the History Classroom
- Time: 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM
- Location: Online via Zoom
- Description: Accusations of political ideology shaping history teachers’ pedagogy are nothing new to anyone familiar with either the rise of the New Left historical scholarship during the 1970s or the so-called “culture wars” of the last quarter-century. But recent debates about teaching “just the facts,” and about teaching from a perspective of “critical race theory,” have reinvigorated public scrutiny of what history teachers do in the classroom. And it’s great that so many people, including teachers, wish to be civically engaged. But how should our political culture and values shape history teaching? In other words, should the present shape the past? Please join the Western Illinois University Department of History for an online discussion of these issues.
Dr. Edward Woell, a WIU history professor and author of the 2022 book, Confiscating the Common Good: Small Towns and Religious Politics in the French Revolution, will speak on conceptions of political partisanship in the historical profession.
Emmanuel Ennin, a WIU MA candidate and graduate of Ghana’s University of Education, Winneba, will speak on how the history of the African slave trade is taught in West Africa.
Joseph Ames, a WIU alumnus and AP History teacher at Clewiston Christian School in Clewiston, Florida, will speak on challenges of teaching high school social studies in a politically charged setting, using events in the present day to illuminate the past.
Following presenters’ remarks, Tim Roberts, chair of the WIU history department, will moderate the discussion with the online community.
Email tm-roberts@wiu.edu for Zoom invitation. - Related Web Site: Related Site
- Contact Information:
Tim Roberts
Phone: 3092981053
Email: tm-roberts@wiu.eu - Source: College of Arts & Sciences
