Ron Cassie, The Examiner
2007-01-18 08:00:00.0
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BALTIMORE -

West Baltimore Middle School, teacher Kaye Whitehead asked her eighth graders Wednesday to compare commonly held assumptions of slave life to the actual diaries, photographs, songs and stories of former slaves.

The students eagerly read former slaves’ journals, and letters written to separated spouses and children. They learned, first-hand, the impact West African language, music, religion and cuisine — brought to plantations by slaves — made in European-American culture.

“Teaching about African-American slaves, specifically Maryland slaves, their culture and heritage, and thinking critically while examining primary and secondary sources is very important,” said city school teacher Whitehead, the 2006-07 Maryland History Teacher of the Year. “They are these kids’ ancestors.”

A broader inclusion of African-American contributions in U.S. history classes statewide was initiated six years ago when State Schools Superintendent Nancy Grasmick began a partnership with the then-opening Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore.

“My husband (Louis) was the chief fundraiser for the museum,” Grasmick said. “And I was talking one day to George Russell, chairman of the board of directors at the museum, about how we can engage our students with the museum. We talked about how to develop a curriculum which would give students a deep understanding of what the museum holds and how to make going there a meaningful experience.”

A half-dozen years later, the 43-lesson African-American curriculum is now expanding to elementary schools. It lines up with state assessment goals and is the only one of its kind of in the country, Grasmick said. Designed and piloted over several years, the spotlight on African-American contributions is a part of — rather than a separate add-on — to the previous U.S. history curriculum. It’s an obvious hit with the students in Whitehead’s class, most of whom have already visited the Reginald F. Lewis Museum on field trips.

“This class is never boring; it’s fun,” said Daniel Wilkinson, 14.

“It’s good to talk about the past. It helps understand how things got to be the way things are now and how the future can be better,” said Brianna Stewart, 13.

“You can see how slavery tore families apart,” said Laura Lee, 13, “and can relate it to what is happening now.”

“You can also see from the letters how families struggled to stay together,” said James Wilson, 13.

rcassie@baltimoreexaminer.com