Students Rally For Turn-of-the-Century Grassroots Causes

Rallying cries for civil rights, monopoly deregulation, and equal rights resonated throughout the Beckerman Athletic Center last week as Grade 7 students engaged in a thematic American history project. 

Called “Get Up! Stand Up!,” the project embraced three turn-of-the-century social movements: African American Civil Rights, The Progressive Movement, and The Women’s Movement. Students learned about the passion and energy that drove reformers to organize and strategize in order to effect change.

“We wanted them to role-play these early 20th-century rallies to gain empathy for the people who worked so hard to organize campaigns at the grassroots level,” explained Middle School Director Brian Christman. “They got a sense of the courage it took to stand up for something and the energy and excitement of the democratic process in action.”

The project began Sept. 23 with the research component. Students were broken into groups who had to investigate their topic – including through such media as online sources, biography materials, and video. From there, preparation began for the culminating event:  the rallies.

Each group member was responsible for preparing rally paraphernalia, with options including flyers, speeches, posters, songs or chants, and templates for Congressional letter-writing campaigns.

“Students who spoke learned what it takes to move the crowd to action, and the chants they created got the whole gym rocking,” said Mr. Christman of the three respective rallies that were staged.

History teacher Bud Kohler, who helped create and coordinate the experiential learning project with Mr. Christman, treated his classes to a special Zoom guest speaker. His sister, Mary Anne Bryant, is a member of a national women's organization in Massachusetts. That organization had prepared activities commemorating the 100th year of women's suffrage, but because of COVID, their efforts were somewhat restricted. 

“So Mary Anne naturally leapt at the chance to dress the part of a suffragist,” Mr. Kohler said.

Both Mr. Kohler and Mr. Christman maintained that students were energized and engaged by the project – as enhanced by the channeling of the various messages of activism.

“Many students commented in their reflections that they were proud of the work they did, and the project got them interested in finding a cause to support,” Mr. Christman said.

For Mr. Kohler, the project represented a real-world occurrence from which students could learn. 

“We continue to offer students opportunities to enjoy an authentic historic experience in order to achieve empathy and perspective. I am so proud of their efforts,” he said.