Facing History and Ourselves
Encyclopedia
Facing History and Ourselves is an international organization that provides professional development services and curricular resources to educators. It was founded in 1976 by Margot Stern Strom and Bill Parsons. It focuses on bringing ethical and moral philosophy to history and social studies classes, particularly regarding issues of racism
, civic responsibility and tolerance.
and mass violence.
In 1976, teacher Margot Stern Strom developed a program that related her work in moral development to the history of the Holocaust. Facing History and Ourselves evolved from classroom experience and a partnership with William Parsons and other colleagues who offered their expertise and support.
Facing History deals with some of the most difficult issues facing our society — the hatreds that exist in our
world and how we confront them. If all Facing History did was to encourage adolescents to learn history, that would be an accomplishment. If all it did was to train teachers, and give them a community to call on for resources and support in times of crisis and challenge, that would be extraordinary. If all it did was to
advance scholarship around issues such as the Holocaust and eugenics, that would help to change the world.
However, Facing History does all of this and more. Ultimately, Facing History shows students that they can have a positive impact on the world and provides them with the historical context to understand where they might begin.
, prejudice
, and antisemitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry, Facing History and Ourselves received the Courage of Conscience Award from The Peace Abbey in Sherborn, Massachusetts.
For her work with Facing History and Ourselves, Margot Stern Strom was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Education by Simmons College
in 2008.
Facing History and Ourselves believes that the study of the Holocaust and the importance of democratic citizenship should be an integral part of our children’s education. Some of the Holocaust survivors who told their stories through Facing History and Ourselves were Sonia Weitz, co-founder of the Holocaust Center Boston North and Alan A. Brown
. As Holocaust survivors pass on, their stories need to continue to be told. The Holocaust Center Boston North does this through its Holocaust Legacy Project.
. Other offices are in Chicago
, Illinois
; Cleveland, Ohio
; Denver, Colorado
; Los Angeles
, California
; Memphis, Tennessee
; New York City
, New York
; San Francisco, California; Toronto
, Ontario
; and London
, England.
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, civic responsibility and tolerance.
Mission
Since 1976, Facing History and Ourselves has offered professional development services; curricular resources; and support to secondary school educators and students in the areas of history, social studies, and language arts. The organization is dedicated to helping teachers around the world lead their students in a critical examination of history, with particular focus on genocideGenocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
and mass violence.
In 1976, teacher Margot Stern Strom developed a program that related her work in moral development to the history of the Holocaust. Facing History and Ourselves evolved from classroom experience and a partnership with William Parsons and other colleagues who offered their expertise and support.
Facing History deals with some of the most difficult issues facing our society — the hatreds that exist in our
world and how we confront them. If all Facing History did was to encourage adolescents to learn history, that would be an accomplishment. If all it did was to train teachers, and give them a community to call on for resources and support in times of crisis and challenge, that would be extraordinary. If all it did was to
advance scholarship around issues such as the Holocaust and eugenics, that would help to change the world.
However, Facing History does all of this and more. Ultimately, Facing History shows students that they can have a positive impact on the world and provides them with the historical context to understand where they might begin.
Publications
In 1994, the organization published Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior, the first nationally distributed edition of its resource book. Subsequent publications include Elements of Time: Holocaust Testimonies and Choosing to Participate: A Critical Examination of Citizenship in American History.Awards
For engaging students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racismRacism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, prejudice
Prejudice
Prejudice is making a judgment or assumption about someone or something before having enough knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy, or "judging a book by its cover"...
, and antisemitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry, Facing History and Ourselves received the Courage of Conscience Award from The Peace Abbey in Sherborn, Massachusetts.
For her work with Facing History and Ourselves, Margot Stern Strom was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Education by Simmons College
Simmons College
Simmons College may refer to:*Simmons College of Kentucky, a historically black college in Louisville, Kentucky*Simmons College , a liberal arts college in Boston, Massachusetts...
in 2008.
Facing History and Ourselves believes that the study of the Holocaust and the importance of democratic citizenship should be an integral part of our children’s education. Some of the Holocaust survivors who told their stories through Facing History and Ourselves were Sonia Weitz, co-founder of the Holocaust Center Boston North and Alan A. Brown
Alan A. Brown
Alan A. Brown, PhD was a Professor of Economics who founded the international honor society in Economics, Omicron Delta Epsilon , which he began while he was a student at City College of New York in 1955, and which now has 600 chapters worldwide. This was a significant accomplishment, as he came...
. As Holocaust survivors pass on, their stories need to continue to be told. The Holocaust Center Boston North does this through its Holocaust Legacy Project.
Offices
Facing History and Ourselves serves an ever-expanding global network of educators reaching an estimated 1.6 million students around the world each year. The network includes teachers in over 80 countries and is headquartered in Brookline, MassachusettsBrookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
. Other offices are in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
; Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
; Denver, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
; Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
; Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
; New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
; San Francisco, California; Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
; and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England.