As we start this new year, now more than ever do we see the need to find ways to integrate current events into our courses. As the problems in Ferguson, Missouri continue with little sign of abatement, have you thought about how you will integrate the events there into your curriculum?
You could actually address issues of civil rights and civic engagement relating to the Ferguson situation by connecting the events there to our Florida benchmarks. For example, SS.7.C.1.9 Define the rule of law and recognize its influence on the development of the American legal, political, and governmental systems lends itself well to discussions of government power and its use in Ferguson. SS.7.C.2.4 Evaluate rights contained in the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the Constitution expects students to be able to connect scenarios to specific rights contained in the Bill of Rights; what better example than what we see in Ferguson? SS.7.C.2.10 Examine the impact of media, individuals, and interest groups on monitoring and influencing government could be addressed by considering the role of the media in looking at potential abuses of power and authority in dealing with citizens in Ferguson. SS.7.C.2.13 Examine multiple perspectives on public and current issues is a benchmark that obviously works with the current events in Ferguson, as we consider the different ways that people across the political and media spectrum discuss Ferguson.
So, how are YOU approaching events in Ferguson within the context of your classroom? And if you are not, why not? Let’s hear from you!