FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES
Facing History and Ourselves (FHAO) is an international educational and teacher training organization whose mission is to engage students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice, and anti-Semitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry. The program is a flexible one; teachers can modify the curriculum for use within other curricula. FHAO employs an adult learning model that encourages the professional development of teachers. The organization enters into partnerships with educators to co-create programs that address the complex issues of citizenship.
With the assistance of a $58,000 grant from the Kentucky Department of Education, The Humanitarium is directly responsible for training over 60 teachers in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky.
Facing History uses the methods of the humanities – inquiry, analysis and interpretation – to promote the knowledge, values and skills needed to preserve and protect democracy. The interdisciplinary approach begins with issues of identity, moves to a consideration of history and judgment, and ends with examples of positive participation. Throughout, students and teachers confront the moral questions inherent in a study not only of racism, anti-Semitism and violence, but also of courage, caring and compassion. Through a rigorous examination of the events that led to the Holocaust, students come to understand that few events in history are inevitable. Most are the result of choices made by countless individuals and groups.
Over the past thirty years, FHAO has been successfully implemented in thousands of high school classrooms, reaching over 600,000 students nationwide. The program teaches critical thinking skills, and promotes the values and knowledge needed to sustain a democratic society. For additional information please go to www.facinghistory.org.
Facing History works, in part, because it submits to the philosophy that students must know not only the triumphs of history, but also the failures, the tragedies and the humiliations. The program believes that students must be trusted to examine history in all of its complexities, including its legacies of prejudice and discrimination, resilience and courage. This trust encourages young people to develop a voice in the conversations of their peer culture, as well as in the critical discussions and debates of their communities and nation.
