Challenges to Democracy – The Warren A. Nord Teachers’ Seminar (Only 8 spaces remain!) Dates: July 16 – 18, 2012

Challenges to Democracy – The Warren A. Nord Teachers’ Seminar (Only 8 spaces remain!)
Dates: July 16 – 18, 2012
Hosted at UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Government

Lee Hamilton said regarding American democracy, “Our democracy is not a product but a continual process. It is preserved not by monuments but deeds. Sometimes it needs refining; sometimes it needs amending; sometimes it needs defending. Always, it needs improving.” The Program in the Humanities & Human Values at UNC-Chapel Hill & the NC Civic Education Consortium are offering teachers the opportunity to analyze our democracy via a unique, three day exploration of the theme “Challenges to Democracy.” Through assorted lectures led by renowned professors and historians, participants will investigate the ways in which democracy has struggled and changed throughout various time periods.  From scrutinizing a 1700s democracy that claimed “All men are created equal” while enslaving thousands of people, to discus sing our democracy’s growing diversity, twenty participants will have a unique opportunity to examine our nation’s democratic principles through the lens of history and current events.  Throughout the scholarly exploration of these topics, participants will also learn pedagogical strategies for teaching these issues in the middle and high school classroom.

For participating, teachers will receive:

• 2.0 license renewal credits
• Meals – lunch each day (July 16-18), dinner on July 16, and snacks
• Lodging the evenings of July 16 & 17 if you do not live locally
• Access to renowned scholars & historians on key historical and current event topics such as slavery; the Wilmington Race Riots; civil rights; the Trail of Tears & Native American rights; immigration; law, the Supreme Court & equal protection; women’s rights; race & medical ethics; American perceptions of Muslims; and much more!
• An autographed copy of  A Home on the Field by UNC Professor Paul Cuadros and a copy of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
• Ready-to-implement lessons plans aligned to the new NC Essential Standards
• The chance to return to the roll of a life-long-learner and scholar, and the opportunity to swap ideas and enjoy the company of colleagues from around the state.

Join us for a scholarly retreat at UNC-Chapel Hill, after which teachers will leave with heightened content knowledge and practical, engaging lessons for implementation in the middle and high school classroom. Check out the tentative agenda to learn more about the engaging topics and presenters here. To access the registration information, please click here.