Whitman Teaches the Movement addresses Civil Rights issues

Whitman College, in partnership with the Southern Poverty Law Center and Walla Walla Public Schools, is coordinating the Whitman Teaches the Movement initiative to enhance civil rights education for Walla Walla students. Now in its third year, Whitman Teaches the Movement brings undergraduates from Whitman to local public school classrooms, where they lead lessons on the Civil Rights Movement. 

 

During the first two weeks of February, Whitman students will visit Walla Walla classrooms across the district, primarily the 2nd, 5th, 7th and 9th grades. Working in pairs or groups of three, Whitman College students will deliver lessons about the Greensboro Sit-ins, Jackie Robinson, female activists in the movement, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” 

 

“Walla Walla Public Schools has a long history of partnering with local colleges, including Whitman. Whitman students are committed to our community,” said Dr. Linda Boggs, Walla Walla Public Schools Assistant Superintendent. “The project was a match for several reasons; the concepts taught in grades 2,5,7, and HS are part of our standard curriculum, teachers often invite outside guests to speak to class and add perspective, and having college age students interacting with our K-12 students is a way to introduce the “concept of college”, as many of our students have had little exposure to college.”

 

This year features new elements to the core structure of the program. Whitman College will host 20 visitors from nine other colleges and universities in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. They come to learn how they could start a program similar to WTTM at their institutions. The aim of the event is to show partner institutions both the impact WTTM has in the community as well as the learning outcomes it has had for over 160 student volunteers.