"The curriculum of the summer Freedom Schools was a series of documents that, taken together, offer the best example of a progressive, experiential curriculum that emphasized student-centered teaching and learning-by-doing. We believe this curriculum is of value to anyone interested in alternative education, especially in the context of small school and summer school programs with a focus on citizenship education and social activism. This website offers teachers and students, as well as scholars and interested citizens, a chance to peruse and use any of the original documents created for the Freedom Schools."
The goal is to provide students and teachers with original materials from the 1964 Freedom School to engage students in critical thinking and social action. The original Freedom School Curriculum used an experimental, interdisciplinary approach engender Black students social activism while informing them about the past. It also relies on lived experience as the content of the curriculum. These resources that were used during 1964 Freedom Summer can benefit student of today.
- Introduction
N/A
- Historical Context
- Case Studies
- Guide to Negro History
Presence Evaluation: Full Presence
Evaluation Notes: This curriculum is comprehensive in its focus of anti-Black racism in the US.
Presence Evaluation: Full Presence
Evaluation Notes: This curriculum chronicles struggles involving direct action and includes the creation of school newspapers that give information about local political demonstrations, events, etc.
Presence Evaluation: Full Presence
Evaluation Notes: This curriculum is advertised as a “school without walls.” It inspires the creation of school newspapers that give information about local political demonstrations, events, etc. It includes thinking about local culture, schools, infrastructure, etc.
Presence Evaluation: Minimal Presence
Evaluation Notes: This rating is due to the time period in which this curriculum was created (Freedom Summers of the 1960s). It would not be as systems-wide when taught solely in a classroom today. Students are provided food and other resources, which was necessary for the Freedom Summers.
Presence Evaluation: Some Presence
Evaluation Notes: The curriculum analyzes and confronts racial inequality.
Presence Evaluation: Full Presence
Evaluation Notes: A high value is placed on students’ experiences and the ways they think about their power and privilege.
Presence Evaluation: No Presence
Evaluation Notes: To date, there has been no empirical study of this past curriculum to evaluate its effectiveness with today's students.
Presence Evaluation: Full Presence
Evaluation Notes : Freedom School Curriculum takes multiple experiences into account, as well as systems of power (i.e., forms of social oppression).
Presence Evaluation: N/A
Evaluation Notes: We are unable to evaluate this domain since it is best measured through observation.