FREEDOM MONTH

the journey

Back in 2020, local veteran and community leader, Byron Dickens began working with the Jackson County school district to adopt the American History 2.0 Initiative.

This initiative was created to incorporate African American contributions, accomplishments, and major historical impacts on American society into the Jackson County School District’s existing curriculum. This was meant not to as a separate subject but to include as a part of the true American story. 

Since then, the school district’s curriculum directors for both Early Childhood & K-12 education have worked diligently with Mr. Dickens to develop a strategy that would effectively meet his desires of incorporating the entire community and annually educating students about African American history. This was accomplished in a way that does not burden educators’ existing assessment requirements while integrating African American history into the existing curriculum and creating a K-12 experience with individually designed assessment strategies for schools. 

Mr. Dickens decided to create the Freedom Month Observance Resolution.  This resolution was created to utilize the month of May for all Jackson County Schools to expand and expound upon the holidays of Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, and Florida’s Emancipation Day.  The month ends with the Emancipation Day Festival. With this implementation, it has now combined meeting not just the African American History requirements of Florida Statute 1003.42 (2) (h) but also the American history requirements of Florida Statute 1003.42 (2) (f). This creates a more unifying and sustainable future for all American students that builds on the pride of nationhood, American idealism, and American nationalism. No longer will the phrase “Black History is American History” remain a cliche. It will be done in action.

Moreover, the decision was made to have the Emancipation Day Festival incorporate all aspects of African American history instead of only Post-Civil War history.

Now students will have the opportunity to experience living history exhibits, lectures, videos, and fun interactive activities that will not only educate on the history of emancipation but all other aspects of African American history from pre-Florida exploration, the middle passage, the enslavement experience, and more. Doing so has now created a path to meeting the newly approved House Bill 551 which increases reporting requirements on teaching African American history in Florida schools.  Most importantly it builds on what Mr. Dickens has described as the “Value of Freedom”. 

“The Value of Freedom Model”

What Freedom Month Does?

Innovatively incorporates:

• The teaching of American patriotism 

• Appreciation of service members & veterans 

• American idealism & African American History; connecting the dots that African American history is American History.

• Provides an opportunity outside of February for students to learn more about African American history.

• Utilizes the end of the school year to create more fun and effective learning opportunities.

• Merges the entire community and local government departments together for one common cause. 

• Creates a path for educators to utilize an entire month to build on the State’s new Reporting Requirement (HB 551) and encourages a wide range of lesson plans & activity opportunity ideas.  

It is the intent to take this work and spread it throughout the State of Florida, one School District at a time.

To get more detailed info on how you can implement Freedom Month in your School District please contact us!

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