History program connects with teachers

By Sheena Johnson

DURHAM -- Thirty-five teachers from the Durham Public Schools system filled the Heritage Room on the 12th floor of the N.C. Mutual Life Insurance building Friday morning, in awe of what they saw.

Many of them were seeing a photographic display of the company's history for the first time.

"I'm from Durham and I never even knew this was here," said Linda Mitchell, a teacher from Lowe's Grove Middle. "But seeing this and being here gives us the opportunity and the tools to teach the students and link them to the history of Durham."

Friday was the last day of the History Connect program for DPS teachers. Social studies teachers for five grades participated in the program.

The professional development program is designed to provide American history teachers the necessary tools and resources to help increase student achievement in history.

The program ended with a walking tour of downtown Durham that began at the N.C. Mutual building.

"This town was practically made from tobacco and to see what it has been transformed into now from what it was is amazing," said Cathie McIntyre, project coordinator of History Connect. "This program is about bringing historic Durham and the present Durham together."

History Connect is funded by the Teaching American History grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The $885,434 grant, which expires this year, was awarded in 2002. Seventy DPS teachers have participated.

"We are delighted to have received the grant from the U.S. Department of Education," McIntyre said. "We never would have had the funds to do something like this, really. We are grateful for the opportunity and it has been a terrific learning experience."

History Connect partnered with Duke University, N.C. Central University, the Ackland Museum at UNC Chapel Hill, and the N.C. Museum of History.

The teachers spent consecutive summers in two, two-week sessions. This year's topics included industrialization, World War I through the War on Terrorism and immigration. Field trips included visits to such landmarks as Stagville Plantation, Bennett Place, Fort Bragg and Duke Homestead.

Professors from Duke and NCCU conducted seminars during the sessions.

The teachers also have homework from their summer sessions -- the River Deep Instructional Organizer Project. Teachers are required to come up with six lesson plans related to the material they learned. Those plans will be posted on a Web site for all DPS teachers to use.

"Although the program is geared toward teachers, the students are the ones that benefit from it the most," said Corey Waters, a Githens Middle School teacher. "The program has allowed me to bring technology in the classroom and teach not only by talking, but by giving them an actual account."

The teachers receive a $1,000 stipend as well as a laptop computer, digital camera and digital projector.

"The No. 1 purpose of this program is to get a better knowledge base of local history, North Carolina history and U.S. history," said Darnell Tabron, the program's director. "Our community, city and state is so rich in history. Our goal is to tie the local history in when teaching U.S. history."

Tabron said many of the teachers have taken their findings and lesson plans to state and national conferences.

"I've learned more in these two weeks than what I've ever known," said LaTonya Smith, a Rogers-Herr Middle School teacher. "[The program] represents exactly what the name says, to connect history. We have to let children know history is not dead. There is living history. The program helps do that."

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