Teacher Training at Minidoka NHS
Teacher Training at Minidoka NHS
By Camille Daw, Program and Outreach Manager
In early July, the Japanese American Museum of Oregon (JAMO), the National Park Service, (NPS) and Friends of Minidoka (FOM) were excited to host a teacher training course in Twin Falls, Idaho. Teachers, located all throughout Oregon, teaching all different grade levels, traveled to Idaho to learn more about Minidoka and the best ways to teach on the Japanese American incarceration experience.
Teachers and staff started their weekend by watching Betrayed: Surviving An American Concentration Camp (Watch for free on PBS) followed by a discussion amongst each other about their hopes and goals for the weekend. Friends of Minidoka provided educators with copies of the Minidoka Interlude and Minidoka National Historic Site: Images of America to encourage their use of primary sources in the classroom.
The next day started early as the teachers began their experience by revisiting their goals and expectations for the weekend with the Elissa Dingus, Director of Education and Engagement at JAMO . Many educators felt they lacked the proper resources to teach about this topic, most not being of Japanese descent, while others worried about community questions and concerns. Elissa, FOM Executive Director Robyn Achilles, and Minidoka NHS Director of Interpretation and Education Kurt Ikeda, offered ways to address both of these issues by providing educators with well-researched tools they could implement in their practices.
The teachers spent the early afternoon taking a tour of the site. Several asked questions about the experiences of teachers at the site, and the difficulties they encountered with teaching incarcerated and traumatized students in the midst of wartime. Teachers also learned more about the Betrayed Lesson Plans (access for free here) and how they can be used to discuss themes surrounding patriotism and protest, the power of words, the power of press, and standing up for others. The team helped educators explore lesson plans, testing their ability to decide between appropriate lesson plans to use to teach on the Japanese American incarceration based on principles outlined in Social Studies for a Better World.
Thank you to the National Park Service and the Japanese American Museum for partnering on an excellent teacher training!
Education Week article highlighting the teacher training.