As we approach Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the RCS High School’s UHS 11 English class has been immersed in reading, examining, and discussing materials that contribute to equity and diversity during the completion of 2021. The class curriculum had the class reviewing materials from celebrated authors, such as Ibi Zoboi and Richard Wright, while formulating thoughts and ideas of how, when, and why the publications were shared with the world. Recently, students completed reading Frederick Douglass - Narrative of an American Slave which was also accompanied by a Socratic seminar to learn more about the background of the material and how it would define historical timeliness in the United States - - as we know it today.
“Reading allows our students to be brought into a historical timeline to better understand the circumstances and events of that era,” said UHS/AP English 11 teacher Ms. Foley. “The ability to comprehend and provide thought and analysis only benefits our students' discussions and allows them to create a better understanding of what has occurred in the world, not just in the United States.”
During the month of December, the class also tackled important topics related to events that occurred in New York City during the 1990’s. Beginning with the book Punching the Air by award-winning, bestselling author Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam which details the pathway of a young black teen incarcerated for a crime he did not commit. The curriculum also centered on excerpts from the memoir Black Boy. The memoir shares events and early updates of American author Richard Wright and his time growing up in the South and follows his pathway to prominence as an author and how he established his writing and publishing career.
Each year, the UHS 11 class follows a detailed curriculum that takes them to areas where they can explore and have important discussions on topics, such as: writing and delivery, understanding content as it relates to contemporary timelines, and understanding how specific authors use their creative process to create and deliver content to make one think and understand the adversity, struggle and triumphs of individuals in American history.
