Local teachers go back in time

Five Cherokee County teachers visited Washington July 9-13 as part of a graduate course sponsored by the Olde english Consortium's Teaching American History Grant. These teachers, representing nine local school districts, spent the week studying historical papers, photographs and objects as part of the graduate course. Five Cherokee County social studies teachers spent a week in Washington this month learning more about the Declaration of Independence and other historical documents.

Blacksburg High teacher Sherri Beam, Blacksburg Middle teacher Vickie Means and Blacksburg Elementary teacher Denise Smith were in Washington July 9-13. They were joined by Granard Middle teacher Kim Guthrie and Grassy Pond Elementary teacher Tammy Stevenson for a graduate course sponsored by the Olde English Consortium's Teaching American History Grant.

The teachers looked over historical documents and artifacts while attending workshops at the National Archives and the Smithsonian's Museum of the American Indian and American Art Museum.

"We were treated so special," Beam said. "There were senior archivists who took us to the National Archives and took the time to show us resources that can be used to help explain primary source historical documents to students."

A total of 47 teachers from nine area school districts participated in the Washington trip as part of the $1 million Teaching American History Grant awarded to the Olde English Consortium. American History teachers were invited to attend from grades four, five, eight and 11. The teachers can earn graduate course credit through the University of South Carolina while increasing their content knowledge.

"These teachers left Washington with an expanded interest in our nation's history and a better understanding of the importance of teaching young students to evaluate all sides of an issue before forming an opinion," grant director Brooke Clinton said in a news release. "Simply teaching history straight from a text book fails to encourage students to think for themselves."

The teachers were able to tour the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the Holocaust and Air and Space Museum. The Air and Space Museum temporarily houses 200 documents from the American History Museum that has been closed for renovation.

Beam particularly enjoyed spending time in the U.S. House of Representatives Chamber listening to debate about establishing a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

"It was really interesting to listen to the protocol being observed in Congress," Beam said. "I could have sat there and listened to the debate all day."

Instead, Beam and the other teachers have homework to do from their Washington trip.

"The graduate class isn't officially over until December. We will spend time working on a plan for teaching students about the historical documents," Beam said. "It was a wonderful experience going to Washington. I hope other teachers will have an opportunity to go."