PF-Teaching with Current Events: Understanding #TakeaKnee

Teaching with Current Events Series

Series Overview: Facing History and Ourselvesis a nonprofit educational and professional development organization that provides curricula resources and training that empower teachers to engage students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice, human rights, and civic participation. This year, the Literacy Assistance Center will work with Facing History and Ourselves to offer a four-part series introducing Facing History’s approach to pedagogy, and to equip teachers with the tools and strategies they need to help students become thoughtful, responsible citizens.

Session 3: Understanding #TakeaKnee

Description: In 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began to kneel on the sidelines during the singing of the anthem to protest the repeated episodes of killing and abuse of black Americans by police that have made national headlines in the past several years. Since then, other players have joined the protest by “taking a knee” during the anthem, leading to an ongoing national debate over the meaning of patriotism. At the heart of the debate are the following questions:

What does it mean to be patriotic? Can one love and support one's country while simultaneously expressing anger toward and protesting its injustices? What are the different ways we can participate and make our voices heard in a democracy?

In this workshop Facing History will model resources and activities that can help you guide your class through an examination of patriotism, the different forms of civic participation and the #takeaknee debate.