Project Overview

This newspaper was created by 4th graders at the Genesee Community Charter School in Rochester, New York, as part of a Learning Expedition on slavery called, “The Courage to Care.” Students learned about slavery through in-depth study of locally related events, which combined fieldwork with the reading of related texts.

The Emancipator provided a way for students to write about historical events, produce original artwork, and showcase some of the historical artifacts they analyzed. 

The digitized selections from The Emancipator, shows students’ understanding of slavery, the abolitionist movement, and locally-related events. The format uniquely allows for not only information to be conveyed, but also students own personal feelings about slavery.

The layout of this newspaper was done by teachers and students but the production was done outside of the school. The work was printed on large-sized newsprint paper, folded in half to approximate the actual size and feel of a real newspaper.

Models of Excellence recognizes the challenges of teaching students history that includes sensitive topics such as enslaved people, genocide, and human rights abuses. Student projects that involve topics like this should be planned with care for the emotional safety of students, respect for the people and cultures studied, and should use reliable primary and secondary sources so that content is not built upon assumptions or stereotypes. Written simulations (e.g., fictional diaries or documents) should be closely informed by student research, fieldwork, and adult experts.