![]() It is, as Bill Bigelow points out ( ), “a day to commemorate the resistance and resilience of Indigenous peoples”. Establishing an Indigenous Peoples Day is a good goal in and of itself. However, care must be taken to ensure such truths and facts do not end up in the dust bin of history as a result of removal from the national conscience. Particularly because the vial acts and crimes against native peoples by Columbus established and justified subsequent continuation and expansion of horrendous practices by others. Broad citizen understanding of such deplorable historical facts is vital to preventing future national wrongs.Įliminating Columbus Day as a celebratory holiday is important. ![]() Teaching the truth about the methods and actions employed in establishing our nation. It is an essential element of educating all citizens about the real history of the United States. It is good that progress is being made to inform citizens on the truth about Columbus. Related article: Teens lead the fight against Columbus Day in Massachusetts. Ellen Story to hear their arguments, presented to the regional school committee, and finally made a presentation to Amherst Town Meeting on May 18, 2016, which is the date Town Meeting approved the change. They encouraged the town of Amherst to change the name of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day, presented their arguments twice to the town’s Human Rights Commission, invited State Rep. Students in Matthew Venditti’s social studies class studied and discussed the issue in Fall 2015, and then some interested students formed a group called Student Advocates for Change. The town of Amherst’s decision to rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day was inspired by a proposal from 8th grade students from Amherst Regional Middle School. Matthew Venditti, 8th grade teacher, Amherst, MA “It was a powerful lesson in civics especially since my students are disenfranchised and feel like they don’t have power to effect change politically.” One letter got published inspiring others to write. Students wrote letters to the editors of local newspapers and the city council. “What started as a debate turned into an opportunity for students to expand their thinking and serve as agents of change in their communities.” Students wrote a letter to the principal, hosted an all-school meeting with local Indigenous leader Annawon Weeden, and had members of the community sign a petition asking the state of Massachusetts as well as city of Cambridge to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Notes from the Classroom Suzanne Caruso, middle school teacher Cambridge, Mass. Sources: Press Republic, WAMC Public Radio, and BOE meeting minutes. The students were pleased with the overwhelming support for the name change. Feb.: The Stafford Middle School’s 6th-grade students provided the board with the feedback they received from Native Americans on changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day, as requested.Vote postponed in order to give students time to get the opinions of local Native Americans on this topic. Dec.: Motion made at the school board meeting to change the name.Vote is postponed to allow time for community feedback. Nov.: At the school board meeting, students recommend to the board to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day on school calendars, effective 2016-2017 school.Students decided to propose to the school board to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Sept./Oct.: Co-teachers undertake a critical study of Columbus using primary sources, including Columbus’s own journal. ![]() Sixth-grade students in the Plattsburg, New York School District led a campaign to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
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