THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9502230312
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Local school districts are trying many different approaches to teaching kids about black history.
And they're striving to do it year-round, not just in February, Black History Month.
``We try to respond to the cultural diversity in our city,'' said Joanne Funk, social studies specialist for Norfolk schools. ``We try to give an overview of the American people and the contributions of immigrants, instead of just the old, historical great white men who were always covered. The word inclusive is the way I would address it.''
Local school districts have urged their teachers to include information about a variety of cultures in their lessons. Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach schools have taken aggressive approaches.
In Norfolk, for example, high schools offer an elective course in ethnic studies, which delves into black history. Two of Portsmouth's three high schools have black history courses. The third, Churchland, may add the course next year.
In Virginia Beach, social studies coordinators went through a curriculum revision several years ago. Objectives that teachers must follow when planning their lessons include specifics about black history and the study of other cultures and the women's movement in America.
``The whole question of diversity was one that we wanted to work in,'' said Lannah M. Hughes, Virginia Beach's coordinator for high school social studies.
``We have a list of objectives,'' she said. ``. . . Like `Students will be able to describe the participation of minorities.' They (teachers) are required to teach the objectives. How they do it is something we don't control. But they do have to do those objectives.'' MEMO: Staff writers Jon Glass and Vanee Vines contributed to this report. by CNB