Kentucky Teacher

The Kentucky Literacy Leaders Academy for History and Social Studies, provided in partnership by the Kentucky Department of Education and the Kentucky Historical Society, will be June 19-21 in Frankfort.

This event will kick off a year-long project designed to train history/social studies literacy leaders who will focus on the integration of Common Core literacy standards/skills into history and social studies.

The academy will consist of the three-day session; two virtual academy sessions in the fall; and one virtual academy session and one face-to-face academy meeting in the spring of 2013.

Only 24 teachers will be selected statewide (preferably an elementary, middle and high school teacher from each of the eight educational cooperative regions in Kentucky) to participate.

Teachers will be required to train other teachers within their districts and education cooperative regions. Travel expenses, hotel accommodations, meals, stipend and books/resources will be provided to all participants selected. Read the full story

The annual Kentucky History Education Conference for K-12 teachers will be held at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort on July 12.

This year’s topic is Turning Points in History.

Among others, presenters will include: Eric Jackson and Burke Miller from Northern Kentucky University; David Hamilton from the University of Kentucky; and Scott New as Daniel Boone.

Accomplished women’s and Civil War historian Caroline Janney, of Purdue University, will offer this year’s keynote speech. Concurrent sessions on primary source activities, classroom applications and instructional strategies also will be offered.

The cost of the conference, which includes lunch, refreshments and teacher materials, is $50 or $45 for Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Association of Teachers of History and Kentucky Council for Social Studies members. A special rate of $35 is available for pre-service teachers. Read the full story

The annual Kentucky History Education Conference will be held at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort on July 12 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. This year’s theme is Turning Points in History.

Women’s and Civil War historian Caroline Janney will present the keynote speech. Among others, presenters will include Eric Jackson and Burke Miller from Northern Kentucky University and Scott New as Daniel Boone.

Concurrent sessions on primary source activities, classroom applications and instructional strategies also will be offered.

A field study bus tour is scheduled for July 13. It will go to historic sites associated with African American emancipation in Kentucky. This professional development day will include stops at White Hall (home of emancipationist Cassius Marcellus Clay), Berea (with lunch at Boone Tavern) and finally Camp Nelson Civil War Heritage Park. Cost for the field study bus tour is $80 if registered before June 1 or $100 after June 1.

For more information, contact Tim Talbott at (502) 564-1792, ext. 4428.

By Lisa Y. Gross
lisa.gross@education.ky.edu

A History of Education in Kentucky by William E. Ellis

In 1845, Kentucky Governor William Owsley, joined by the state auditor and state treasurer, burned a selection of bond documents. The interest on these bonds was to be invested and used to support public education in the state, but the commonwealth’s leaders had been “borrowing” that money for years. So, they figured that if the bonds didn’t exist, they would no longer be obligated to repay what they’d taken.

This fiery historical moment is one of many described by William E. Ellis in his new book, A History of Education in Kentucky. Ellis is foundation professor emeritus of history at Eastern Kentucky University, and his latest work is a wide-ranging analysis of Kentucky’s public education system – elementary, secondary and postsecondary. This review centers primarily on the chapters that deal with elementary and secondary education.

Ellis’ description of the bond-burning episode, which was rationalized at the time as necessary and right, is one of many head-shaking moments in the book. Ellis doesn’t paint a rosy picture of Kentucky’s early efforts to educate its residents, as evidenced by the title of the first chapter, “Tragedies, Blunders and Promises.” Read the full story

The 2011-12 school year marks the 50th anniversary of the Kentucky Junior Historical Society (KJHS). Since 1961, KJHS has been positively impacting the lives of Kentucky’s students. KJHS is a membership program administered by the Kentucky Historical Society that connects Kentucky students in kindergarten through grade 12 to Kentucky’s rich history.

In KJHS, members have the opportunity to participate in activities, academic competitions and service projects throughout the school year and summer. These activities are designed to increase members’ understanding of and appreciation for how history can be used to build strong communities; improve the quality of life; develop sound and objective public policy; and develop and inspire the next generation of Kentucky’s leadership. Read the full story

The September 11: Teaching Contemporary History online conference will be Aug. 3-4.

This conference is free to all teachers and school administrators.

Educators will be able to view the online conference live and interact with panelists and other teachers who are online.

Each session of the conference will last 50-75 minutes. All sessions will be recorded and posted for teachers to watch later if they cannot attend the live session. To register for this free online history conference, go to http://smithsonianconference.org/september11/program.

The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) announced recently that Donnie Wilkerson, a teacher at Jamestown Elementary School (Russell County) has been named the 2011 Kentucky History Teacher of the Year.

Wilkerson has been teaching at Jamestown Elementary for seven years after a diverse career that included owning several businesses and serving as the mayor of Jamestown from 1993-98. Read the full story

The Kentucky State Parks Recreation, Environment and Cultural History (REACH) Camp is an overnight educational program for school groups. Trained naturalists and recreational staff design custom programs to help encourage student interest in nature, history and outdoor activities. This offers an innovative way to teach students about Kentucky’s cultural, natural and historical resources.

The camps can be tailored to a group based on what students are studying, as long as it fits into the basic resources of the park. Every REACH camp includes a fun evening program like an owl prowl, astronomy or stories around the campfire.

Available at most Kentucky State Resort Parks, REACH camps are available November through May for classes of 20 or more participants. Lodging is based on four guests per lodge room, and a minimum of one chaperone or teacher per every eight students is required.

Activities such as aquatics, state history, plant identification and outdoor skills supply educators with valuable teaching components and make learning fun. These activities give students experiences that relate to every course of study including natural science, mathematics, history, language arts and social skills.

For more details, go to www.parks.ky.gov or call Lisa Deavers at (502) 564-4940, ext. 246.

Kentucky Chautauqua programs allow students to experience Kentucky and U.S. history brought to life in the classroom and offers interaction between the character and students during the program that not only enhances the learning experience, but engages students. While they learn about the past they can apply what they learn to present-day topics and issues.

Included in this experience are:

• CD with all core content information by grade level
• historical information on the character and his/her contributions to Kentucky and the U.S.
• pre- and post-performance open-ended questions
• printed programs for all attendees (up to 75 students)
• lodging for the presenter if necessary

For more information, go to www.kyhumanities.org.