LYNN — Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Tutwiler said all K-12 students in the Lynn Public Schools (LPS) are given the opportunity through school-wide events and classroom learning to explore and learn about Black history on a local and national level.
Black-history education will be emphasized during February for Black History Month but is also incorporated into students’ curriculum throughout the school year, according to Tutwiler.
“At the outset of February, schools received links to resources for teachers,” Tutwiler said. “These links provide lesson ideas for grades K-12 across academic-content areas and the fine arts from organizations like the National Education Association and the Library of Congress.”
Tutwiler highlighted a lesson plan created by Thurgood Marshall Middle School, which provides in-depth learning about memorable individuals throughout history, and the history of how Black History Month was established.
“A whole school lesson was created to explore the origins and vision of Black History Month,” he said. “Students will learn about notable people throughout history up to the modern-day, including those local to Lynn.”
Tutwiler said middle-school students will have an opportunity to hear from local figures in the Black community about their stories and history.
The History Department at Lynn English High School is creating and leading lessons on blackout poetry — a form of poetry that entails using a piece of written text, and covering words to create new pieces of work.
“Students read a page of a document, such as a speech or a memoir and underline or highlight words and phrases that stand out to them,” Tutwiler explained. “They make their poetry by covering all but those words on the page with art.”
Documents will be focused on certain speeches and pieces related to Black history provided by resources from the History Department.
Elementary-school students will be learning about inspiring Black artists.
Starting this month, the LPS Elementary Art Department will be using linked resources to worldwide galleries provided by the Art of Education University. Tutwiler said they will use the links to present and establish lesson plans revolving around Black artists, art and their impact on history and society.
“This is part of a four-year collaboration with the Art of Education University and the LPS Art Department,” Tutwiler said.
Tutwiler said Black history is also integrated with non-academic fields in LPS. Students from the Thurgood Marshall Middle School orchestra will perform a piece called “African Noel,” arranged by David E. Robinson, an orchestral director and prominent member of the National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM).
During Black History Month, members of the Classical High School band will perform a New Orleans-style, second-line tune — to help students learn about Black music and its history in America.
There is also a connection to the future in these resources.
Thurgood Marshall Middle School will also spotlight former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who the school was named after. Tutwiler highlighted the upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court and President Joe Biden’s promise to nominate the first Black woman as Justice Stephen Breyer’s successor.
“Given the upcoming vacancy to be filled in the Supreme Court, LPS also shared a spotlighted resource section on Thurgood Marshall, the first Black associate justice of the Supreme Court,” said Tutwiler.
