PF-Facing History and Ourselves: Teaching about Religion and Democracy

Engaging Curricula for TASC Instruction: Facing History and Ourselves

Series Overview: Facing History and Ourselvesis a nonprofit educational and professional development organization that provides curricula resources and training that empower teachers to engage students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice, human rights, and civic participation. This year, the Literacy Assistance Center will work with Facing History and Ourselves to offer a four-part series introducing Facing History’s approach to pedagogy, and to equip teachers with the tools and strategies they need to help students become thoughtful, responsible citizens.

Session 4: Teaching About Religion and Democracy

Description: Misconceptions and a lack of understanding dominate perceptions of Islam in many societies. In this workshop, participants will examine the impact of stereotypes, bias, discrimination, and hate crimes toward people perceived to be Muslim in both the United States and Europe. A recent reported uptick in hate crimes -especially those targeting Muslims-- adds urgency to this conversation for both educators and students.

In this session, participants will discover new interdisciplinary teaching strategies that reinforce historical thinking and literacy skills. We will explore topics such as stereotypes, bias, discrimination, and hate crimes, as well as tools and resources that help challenge anti-Muslim stereotypes and discrimination. We will examine the universal forces that propel religious intolerance alongside the specific factors that fuel Islamophobia. We will highlight the voices of young people as they respond to ideas and behaviors often rooted in xenophobia.