Black History Month: Middletown school teaching students about local heroes

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Black History Month: Middletown school teaching students about local heroes

“Pioneers can start in any generation and in any community.”

Highview 6th Grade Center, a Middletown City School District school, caught the attention of Journal-News Staff Writer Michael D. Clark for its unique Black History Month displays. Found buried in an old storage closet, Nicole Fisher, principal, discovered 16 large posters of local Black heroes from the City of Middletown’s history. Seizing an opportunity, Mrs. Fisher and a few teachers put together a scavenger hunt for students to learn about and discover Middletown’s homegrown heroes. 

To read the full article, click here.

Black History Month: Middletown school teaching students about local heroes
February 12, 2022
By Michael D. Clark, Journal-News Staff Writer

“A Middletown teacher said her school’s decision to take a local approach to celebrating prominent leaders during Black History Month is having more impact on students…

“Students at Middletown’s Highview 6th Grade Center are getting local Black History lessons every time they walk the school’s main hallway thanks to a series of large posters featuring 16 African American men and women from the city’s history.

“While some schools elsewhere often default to only focusing on nationally famous Black leaders during the month celebrating Black history, a home-grown heroes approach is more relatable, said Highview Language Arts Teacher Anedra Million… 

“Pioneers can start in any generation and in any community,” said Million…

“The placement of the large posters, which stand about eye-level to students and features photos and bios for each of the 16 local heroes…is part of an ‘educational scavenger hunt’ where students apply what they have learned about the historical figures and then apply that information to what they learn about their Middletown community… 

“‘And then kids talk about ways that they can become trailblazers in their community and that’s how you make it (Black history) come to life’... 

“Million said the local focus works with youngsters… 

“‘We hear all about all the people who are national heroes but we wanted them to see the contributions that are made by African Americans that maybe some of them (students) may be related to or that their families know.’”