Why January 6th must be taught in schools
The events of January 6, 2021 must be taught in our schools alongside such events as 9/11, the Civil War, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, etc. We have a moral and intellectual obligation to do so.
Danyelle D. Kimp (President & Co-Founder, Alaska Coalition of BIPOC Educators)
The events of January 6, 2021 must be taught in our schools alongside such events as 9/11, the Civil War, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, etc. We have a moral and intellectual obligation to do so.
For our children to fully understand January 6th we must place it in the context of the larger scope of American history. They should not only learn what happened on that dreadful day but be able to reflect on everything that led up to it as well. Our students must have the freedom to examine current threats to our democracy, learn how to navigate the political media landscape, engage in civil discourse, know how to recognize and disarm misinformation, and understand what voter suppression is all about.
By strengthening young learners with the knowledge and skills to be critical thinkers, we are ultimately preparing them to be civically engaged, fully capable of having honest and meaningful discussions on issues they both agree and disagree on, and making informed political choices as a result. This is how educators defend our democracy and why January 6th must be taught in our schools.
The Alaska Coalition of BIPOC Educators (ACBE) is a non-profit 501c3 organization whose mission is to “Champion equity in education for communities of color in order to achieve equality.” Their top three priorities are 1. Health and safety of educators, students, and communities of color 2. Equity in academic opportunities and curriculum 3. Hiring and retention of educators of color.
The ACBE is now accepting new members. For more information visit theacbe.org.
