Students in Rhonan Mokriski’s “Searching for Slavery in Northwest Connecticut” class at the Salisbury School are becoming public historians.
The Library and Searching for Slavery
By James King, Library Director at Salisbury School, published by the Atlantic Black Box Project on March 5, 2021
James Mars didn’t complain of “many things,” but one thing troubled him his entire life: the lack of “opportunity to go to school as much as I should, for all the books I ever had in school were a spelling-book, a primer, a Testament, a reading-book called Third Part, and after that a Columbian Orator.” Mr. Mars would go on to write his own book and it seems a fitting tribute to this remarkable man for his story to now further the education of others.
When Salisbury School history teacher Rhonan Mokriski asked me to help with the Searching for Slavery course, I was thrilled to take part. As the school’s librarian, I had worked with the history department on multiple occasions and was excited about the prospect of a more extensive collaboration. Over the last year, my contribution to the class has been in three parts: finding, providing, and showcasing research resources and media creation applications; researching with students during class time; and contributing articles and comments to the class’s Microsoft Teams channel. Continue reading.
Grace and Hope Teachers’ Talk
What messages does our society send to students at different ends of the socio-economic spectrum? What joys and challenges do teachers face as they try to meet the complex needs of today’s students?
This panel discussion, hosted by Christ Church Greenwich, includes Kelly Bridges, a middle school history teacher at Sacred Heart Greenwich who shares details of Witness Stones project in the classroom. Also on the panel are Ann Neary, who taught at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx for 11 years and is now at Staples High School in Westport; Sheldon Ayers, Greenwich High School Social Studies teacher for 15 years; and Debbie Smith, Greenwich High School English teacher and longtime Christ Church member.
