Funded Oct 2, 2019We teach students to think critically about important texts, such as the Declaration of Independence. At first reading, most students assume that the Declaration was primarily about our separation from Great Britain. It was, but it was more than that. Students are surprised to learn, from the text itself, that Jefferson was addressing a wider audience that may have included Europeans, especially the French, and others throughout the world who were yearning for liberty from oppressive national regimes.
We can pick up on Jefferson's subtle grammatical cues by carefully reading the wording of the Declaration of Independence, then researching what scholars have written about it. There are many other instances of critical reading skills that we can cite from the readings in the book that demonstrate that an actual book, rather than an online version of it, is a much better choice in a high school and college classroom. Books always seem to inspire thoughtful questions which lead students to research and finally, arrive at their own conclusions.
It's difficult to incorporate anything but selective reading in a dual credit political science course, which is what makes these books an important resource. When we do read, it's usually source documents, many of which are contained in this book. Students begin by reading the text for themselves, then writing a couple of paragraphs on what they think the document means. They are then divided into small groups to discuss their reading of the text as a group, research what scholars have written about the text, and present their ideas about the text and its meaning to the rest of the class. A soft exit-ticket assessment is given where students write a headline about the text that summarizes the meaning they have derived from it.
The students who benefit most directly from critical reading and thinking skills, such as those that are described above, are high school seniors who are dual credit students in political science. For most, it is the first time they encounter work beyond the high school level where they must begin to think more deeply and critically about important issues that will impact them throughout their lives. These books are an important training tool that helps students think beyond superficial renderings of these documents that they learned throughout their primary and secondary education to specific issues in American politics our nation is currently facing.
Thank you for contributing to the success of our students through your generous donations to this project.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Wawee