E. Claiborne Robins, Jr., Teachers Institute
The Civil Rights Movement in Virginia
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2010 Teachers Institute participants and VHS staff pose for a picture. |
On February 22, 1960, thirty-four Virginia Union University students staged a sit-in to protest segregation in the restaurants of Thalhimers Department Store. In recognition of the 50th anniversary of this event, the topic of the Virginia Historical Society's annual E. Claiborne Robins, Jr., Teachers Institute was The Civil Rights Movement in Virginia. The Institute was held at the VHS from July 12–16, 2010.
Virginia's role in the civil rights movement has often been overshadowed by the more dramatic events that occurred in the Deep South. However, Virginia played a prominent role in the struggle for equal access to public accommodations, the extension of voting rights, and the desegregation of public schools. In 1946, Gloucester County's Irene Morgan brought the lawsuit that desegregated interstate bus travel. In 1951, students from Robert Russa Moton High School in Farmville walked out of class to protest unequal educational facilities. Their case became one of five that was incorporated into the landmark 1954 decision, Brown v. Board of Education. Southern juries were desegregated in 1963 as a result of Johnson v. Virginia, and the decision in the case of Caroline County's Mildred and Richard Loving overturned state prohibitions on interracial marriage across the nation. The institute explored these and other topics.
The E. Claiborne Robins, Jr., Teachers Institute is open to all Virginia public and private elementary and secondary school teachers but is targeted to teachers of Virginia Studies, USII, & VA/US History. Participants were selected by members of the society's educators advisory board.
Sponsored by The National Endowment for the Humanities, the M&M/Mars Education Fund, and the Robert Hill Carter Fund for Virginia Local History.
How to Apply:
Please note: this year's program has passed. Please check back for information about the 2011 institute. For more information, please contact Caroline Legros, School Program Coordinator, at 804.342.9652, or clegros@vahistorical.org.
Testimonials from past institutes
I've been meaning to write you all and properly express my thanks for the fantastic job you all did with the summer institute. I have participated in many of these, but this was by far the most professional, well-planned, and engaging seminar that I've attended in my career. I recently used many of the resources from the institute in planning a county-wide inservice on teaching the Brown decision. I'm also planning on replicating the Farmville walking-tour on a field trip with my students this Spring. The institute greatly influenced my classroom teaching because I now use the Farmville story as a case-study for students to learn about Plessy, Brown, and Massive Resistance. I'm not trying to write a resume here, but I only mention this because I believe it is a testament to the hard work of you and your staff.
—Beau Dickenson, Rockingham County
"This topic was of particular interest to me—I loved the way so many aspects of Virginia Indians were examined. I was very excited to participate—the week exceeded my expectations! I learned more in one week about Virginia than I have in twenty years of living here. This was better than any college course I have taken. It was a true gift. Thank you."
— Marcia Hunt
"Exceptionally well-planned, executed institute that provides a history teacher with superb tools, regardless of the subject he/she teaches. My enhanced knowledge of archaeology, anthropology, ethnology, and linguistics will definitely benefit me in my World History classroom."
— Milondra Coleman
"The afternoon with Doug Owsley was a powerful experience. It was a privilege to meet a man who is so passionate about his work. Working with human skeletons was an unforgettable experience."
— Betsy Saunders
"I can't wait to share your wealth of resources with other staff members at my school!"
— Melissa Hallowell
Past Institutes
Read about previous Teachers Institutes
Also related:
Brenton S. Halsey Teaching Excellence Award
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