Like so many Americans who heard Ms. Gorman's powerful Poem, "Not Broken But Simply Unfinished," I was moved to tears. As a Social Studies educator, her words were especially meaningful.  I keep thinking back to certain lines. There are so many that stand alone in their power and beauty. The line that I keep coming back to is this one:  "Being an American is more than a pride we inherit. It's the past we step into and how we repair it."

Her words, so beautiful, so succinct-- perfectly encapsulates my philosophy as a History Educator. These lines sum up perfectly-- WHY HISTORY MATTERS.

Students might not remember the minutiae. I am okay with that. What I truly desire is that they understand their connection to the past and their role in the future, as engaged (and informed citizens). I want my students to understand their role in the human story and the absolute necessity to play an active role in that story. 

We must never take our cherished ideals for granted. Democracy, freedom, justice, equality. These ideals need to be nurtured. As educators, we play an important role in this respect. We need to teach young people the SKILLS to do this. This is something I take very seriously. I strive to incorporate historical thinking skills into my lessons every single day (even if it's a five-minute bell ringer activity!) 

What are your thoughts on Amanda Gorman's poem? Do you plan to incorporate her poetry (or a passage from one of her poems) into your curriculum?