In teaching American history, whose stories are we telling? Whose “voices” help shape our understanding of the past? How can we ensure that students have access to resources and materials that effectively portray the experiences of different cultural, ethnic, and racial groups in American history? Elementary and middle school educators and school librarians gathered at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum on March 24, 2007 to examine these questions at a day-long conference entitled One Country, Many Voices: Cultural Connections to Our History.
In a panel discussion moderated by Marc Aronson, guest authors Alma Flor Ada, Tonya Bolden, Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, and Laurence Yep discussed the interplay of culture, history, and identity. Workshops on topics such as New Bedford’s Underground Railroad, the immigrant experience of Cambodian youth in Lowell, and American Indian history in the Boston Harbor Islands provided innovative resources and ideas for classroom applications. During an afternoon book talk presented by Marion Reynolds and Sasha Lauterbach, participants learned criteria for selecting history-based children’s literature. A book signing with the authors followed the conference.
Presented in collaboration with the John F. Kennedy National Historic Site, the conference offered elementary and middle school educators a rare opportunity to meet with notable guest authors and gain a deeper understanding of the role literature can play in teaching American history.