Underground Railroad Focus of After School Curriculum
October 24, 2002
Thanks to a new pilot program developed by the City of Columbus' Office of Education, Columbus Public Schools and Ohio Dominican University; youngsters enrolled in after school programs will learn about the important role Central Ohio played in the Underground Railroad.
Beginning in late October and through February, the two-week pilot program will be offered at four after school programs in Columbus: Cap City Kids at Linmoor Middle School, Ohio Dominican's Village to Child, St. Joseph Montessori School and Salesian Boys and Girls Club.
The program, called Seeking Freedom, was funded as a result of a $50,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Columbus Public Schools partnered with Ohio Dominican to win the NEH grant, one of only two awarded nationally. The two developed curriculum that eventually will be used as the foundation for children to learn about the Underground Railroad throughout Ohio and the United States.
Seeking Freedom provides students with a multifaceted view of the Underground Railroad, incorporating history, culture, architecture, geography and government. The curriculum incorporates two field trips for students - one to the Kelton House and one to the Benjamin Hanby House in Westerville, two important sites on the Underground Railroad.
Cathy Nelson, Elementary Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator for Columbus Public Schools, will lead the program, drawing upon her expertise as the President and Founder of The Friends -more- Underground Railroad/2 of Freedom Society - Ohio Underground Railroad Association. Two Ohio Dominican faculty members and one board member worked closely with Nelson to design the curriculum - Nancy Recchie, historic preservation specialist and ODU board member; Dr. Imali Abala, associate professor of English; and Dr. Kathleen Riley, associate professor of history.
"Enriching programs like this are important to teach students about the past, possess a greater understanding of current society, and learn how to become advocates to prevent history from repeating itself," said Hannah Dillard, Director of the Mayor's Office of Education.
"This is a tremendous opportunity to help young people understand the history and meaning of the Underground Railroad and the struggles, dangers and heroism of countless people," said Nelson. But the program will go beyond the historical perspective. "The issues that people were facing with the Underground Railroad - prejudice, racism, human rights, and the struggle for freedom - are issues these 12- and 13-year-old students are still facing today," Nelson said.
"There is a great deal of interest in the story of the Underground Railroad. The National Endowment for the Humanities Grant provided an outstanding opportunity to build upon years of work by Cathy Nelson and the volunteers of The Friends of Freedom Society in Ohio. It also supports Ohio Dominican University's commitment to lifelong learning and outreach in our community. It is an ideal partnership and one that we hope expands to other after-school programs in the future," said Recchie.
The Seeking Freedom curriculum and accompanying teacher's manual will be made available to educators throughout the United States. Though parts of the curriculum will be specific to Central Ohio, it is being developed in modules so that it can be easily adapted in other parts of the country.
