Federal grant will help immerse teachers in history

Caitlin Hudgins

Wednesday, July 7, 2004 | 8:16 a.m.

In a town that has imploded many of its classic casinos, history might not seem to hold much value.

But to assist Las Vegas students in understanding Nevada's past and America's heritage, the Education Department gave Clark County School District a grant worth $985,729 Friday.

Presented by Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., and Associate Deputy Education Undersecretary Kathleen Leos, the American History Grant will allow 150 Clark County teachers to study in partnership with local institutions. The grant is designed to improve teachers' knowledge, understanding and appreciation of history in order to be more effective in the classroom.

Porter, a member of the congressional Education and Work Force committee, said that children need to understand their nation's past in order to become responsible citizens and leaders in the future.

"The future is determined by the past," he said. "I think our community is starving for information on what created Nevada -- and the country."

Students in Clark County are particularly in need of extra help in history because they represent such a diverse community, Porter said.

"Especially with the massive growth (of the school district), we have a real melting pot," he said.

Clark County has one of the fastest growing school districts in the country.

Leos said the rapid development of the school district makes students even more interested in where they all came from and how they all came together.

"In a fast-growth area, history becomes even more important," she said.

The American History Grant partners seventh and 11th grade American history teachers with the Community College of Southern Nevada history department; the University of Nevada, Las Vegas education department; the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society; and Nevada Humanities, a committee that supports arts and education in the state.

With support from these organizations, teachers will participate in lectures, discussions, readings, summer institutes and community programs.

Clark County's program, entitled "Living American Freedom, Living American History," will teach instructors about subjects such as race, gender, class and ethnicity. Guest speakers will cover topics including American independence, slavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction, the Progressive movement, the Depression, World War II, the Cold War and civil rights.

Washoe County School District also was awarded an American History Grant, worth $978,152.

Although Clark County has a much larger population than Washoe, other factors are weighed in determining the size of grants, said Jim Bradshaw, spokesman for the Education Department in Washington, D.C.

"We evaluate each budget (for grant applications) on their own merits," he said. "In this case, the Clark County grant will assist 150 teachers in one school district while the Reno grant will assist 300 teachers in seven school districts."

The Education Department awarded 122 grants this year to 41 states and Puerto Rico. The grants, which have been awarded since 2001 under the No Child Left Behind Act, can be used to benefit elementary and secondary history students.