Georgia Studies Newsletter

January 2016

In This Issue

UGA and Desegregation

MLK Day

Standards Spotlight

New Virtual Field Trip

Government Resources

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GPB Education Website

UGA Becomes Inclusive

First African-American Students Admitted

Above: The Holmes-Hunter Academic Building at the University of Georgia

Chartered in 1785 as the first state-sponsored college in America, it wasn't until January 6, 1961 that the University of Georgia accepted its first African-American students.

Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Hamilton Holmes arrived at the Athens campus on January 9th ready to register for classes. The University of Georgia's series Freedom on Film offers clips from around the state as well as lesson plans concerning the controversial decision and their contentious first days on campus. ABC News has a great interview with Charlayne Hunter-Gault as she recalls her admission to the University. The Civil Rights Digital Library has a clip from an interview with Hamilton Holmes just before he graduated from Emory Medical School.

The Georgia Historical Society offers primary documents from the era as well as a teacher's guide. In their honor, the Academic Building on UGA's campus was renamed the Holmes-Hunter Academic Building in 2001. Students could create their own historical markers using the template provided to document local Civil Rights history in Georgia. The National Park Service hosts a website devoted to Teaching with Historic Places.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Resources

Above: Dr. King's Statue on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

"What Are You Doing for Others?"

Celebrated on the third Monday of January to coincide with Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday on January 15th, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill honoring Dr. King in 1983. The first observance was in 1986.

In the words of Dr. King's wife, Coretta Scott King, the holiday "celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought healing to America." The National Education Association offers a host of lessons for MLK Day. The National Park Service covers the changing nature of race during Dr. King's life and beyond. The History Channel has a great video on some unknown facts about Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech given during the 1963 March on Washington.

The Center for Civic Education has lessons that incorporate the Constitution, and the Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance project offers a "Do's and Don'ts of Celebrating MLK Day" teacher's guide. George Mason University's teachinghistory.org has a host of resources for teaching and learning about Dr. King as well. Scholastic has resources focusing on the Day of Service, or as it is said, "a day on, not a day off!"

Spotlight On The Standards

Georgia and Early Civil Rights SS8H11a

As World War II came to a close, federal courts backed Gov. Ellis Arnall's efforts to eliminate the white primary (chapter 18 - p. 488) . But, f ormer Gov. Eugene Talmadge vowed to return Georgia to white supremacy while running in the 1946 Governor's Race . Upon Talmadge's untimely death before his swearing-in, the election mysteriously went to his son, Herman Talmadge. Several graphics can help students visualize the Three Governors Controversy as well as the influence of the county unit system (chapter 19 - 516-18).

Talmadge worked to preserve segregation in Georgia, but also brought a sales tax to fund public education. In 1954, the Supreme Court issued its ruling in the famous case of Brown v. Board of Education . A video and g raphics allow students a closer look at desegregation (chapter 20 - 536-38). The National Education Association, PBS News Hour, and the Annenberg Institute for Civics have resources and lessons on the Brown ruling. An interview with African-American teacher and principal Rosa Strickland might help students better understand the realities of segregation in Georgia (543-45).

Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, who was President of Morehouse College and spiritual mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., has a special section of "Georgians in History" (526-27). SouthCarolinaETV offers a mini-documentary on Benjamin E. Mays as well. Dr. King's work and efforts are covered from page 547 and include a "Georgians in History" section which has a slideshow and audio clip (553-55). Resources for teaching about the King holiday are listed above. Georgia's controversial 1956 State Flag is illustrated by a picture of Gov. Marvin Griffin (chapter 21 - pp. 569-70).

New Virtual Field Trip

FDR and Warm Springs Available!

Above: Roosevelt's Little White House

Our newest virtual field trip is now available through the GPB app on iPad and on the web at gpb.org/virtualfieldtrip. You will need to request a login to get started. If you have a login for the Georgia Studies digital textbook, that login will work for the virtual field trip series.

Warms Springs serves as home to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Little White House and the natural springs that were historically used for the treatment of polio.

Students can take a 360 degree tour of the many sites, watch videos and hear interviews with rangers at the site, and view historical photos as well. Our teacher's guide has an overview, standards correlation, and class discussion questions. There is also an assessment that is standards-based, with elected response questions (multiple choice) and constructed response questions. An assessment answer key is included as well.

On The Campaign Trail

Resources for Teaching Government

Hosted by Georgia Public Broadcasting's own radio show host Bill Nygut, On the Campaign Trail is a political web series for Georgia teachers and students.

Episodes take viewers on a journey through the political process leading to the 2016 presidential election. Topics cover a variety of subjects ranging from the current primaries to the eventual general election. Each episode is aligned to the Georgia Performance Standards and includes printable teacher lessons and resources.

Eventually expanding to nearly fifteen episodes, v ideos take students on a guided tour of political and governmental topics for use in both the Georgia Studies as well as the Government and U.S. History classroom. The latest episode concerns the Seven Roles of the President.

We want to hear from you!

Send us feedback or suggestions for the digital textbook or request an

on-site demonstration by emailing one of our Education Outreach Specialists:

Michael Kuenlen, South Region

mkuenlen@gpb.org

Tracey Wiley, North Region

twiley@gpb.org