Education Continues to be a Key Component of the Essex Heritage Mission
Education at every level creates special opportunities to open minds and allow all of us to grow. In my lifetime, I’ve been fortunate to be exposed to many exceptional opportunities to learn and have benefited in many ways. I’ve also welcomed every chance that I’ve been offered to participate in a program that would provide learning opportunities for others, as well. Over the last several decades, I’ve participated in the educative process at every level from elementary school through college. In this region, I have served on an elementary school council, had two special experiences with private catholic secondary schools and served on the Foundation Board of a local college. With each one of these experiences, I have continued to learn, and have used those educational opportunities to enhance my lifetime of experiences.
When the Essex National Heritage Area was created a decade ago, it was important to me, that some of its resources be devoted to education. During the last month, two exceptional experiences have been offered to area educators and I want to relate those to you today. Through two Federal Teaching American History grants and partnerships with Salem State College, the National Archives and Records Administration and the Beverly Public School System, two special programs have been established with teachers in this region. One effort, nearing conclusion is with secondary teachers and the other, just starting, is with elementary school educators. Both initiatives recently offered weeklong education symposiums and I want to recap those sessions for our readers.
LINCs (Local History in a National Context) Summer Institute
LINCs is a federally-financed grant designed to provide elementary school teachers access to local primary source material to enhance social studies lessons. After a very successful year where dozens of school districts were involved and many teachers from this region were introduced to the newest Essex Heritage educational initiative, a summer institute was held during the week after Independence Day. The daily offerings at that session were as follows:
Monday, July 7th – an Early Colonial Government discussion was held at the Amesbury Cultural Center & Historic New England’s Rocky Hill Meetinghouse presented by Salem State College professors, Dr. Brad Austin and Dr. Elizabeth Duclos Orsello with special guest lecturer ,Dr. Emerson “Tad” Baker. Teachers took part in a simulated “town meeting” lesson developed by museum educator, Rebecca Zimmerman.
Tuesday July 8th – Pre Revolutionary War Events discussion was held at Marblehead Historical Society, Marblehead, MA. Teachers then created an “ad” campaign for patriots.
Wednesday July 9th – Discussion of the US Constitution and the Great Seal was held at the National Archives & Records Administration, Waltham, MA and teachers produced “seals” for their schools based on local information.
Thursday July 10th – a discussion of the Early National Period was held at Hamilton Hall, Salem, MA along with an architectural tour of Salem Buildings.
Friday July 11th – a lecture and discussion relative to Disenfranchised People was held at the African American Meetinghouse, Boston, MA, followed by a tour of the Meeting House, teachers took part in tableaux showing Essex County scenes.
UEH…Using ESSEX History Institute
Using ESSEX History is a program designed to tie the people, places and events of Essex County to national developments, and themes in order to increase the depth and quality of the region’s American history teacher’s knowledge. This UEH Summer Institute designed for secondary school teachers was offered during the third week in July and was attended by thirty-one teachers from 16 school districts in the region. The “agenda” for the secondary school session entitled “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times” was as follows:
Monday, July 14 - Life at the Center of the Storm: Massachusetts and the American Revolution, at The Museum of Our National Heritage, Lexington; presented by Dr. Dane Morrison from Salem State College.
Tuesday, July 15 - The Union in War: was presented at Marblehead Museum and Historical Society; by Dr. Nina Silber of Boston University.
Wednesday, July 16 - "Go West, Young Man" (and Woman!): at the Peabody Essex Museum presented by independent scholar Dr. Beth Ladow.
Thursday, July 17 - "Local People": Everyday Americans and the Civil Rights Movement: at the National Archives in Waltham presented by Dr. Jamie Wilson from Salem State College.
Friday, July 18 - "The Fictional Classroom": Using Literature to Teach History at The House of Seven Gables in Salem presented by English scholars Dr. Arthur Riss and Dr. John D. Scrimgeour from Salem State College
It certainly is clear that the broad subject matter being discussed and by the attendance of dozens of local educators from across the region we serve that the summer institutes that the Essex Heritage offers are well received. Essex Heritage continues to make the preservation of the important heritage of this region a primary part of the educational initiatives offered to the educators in this area.