Syracuse Latin Students Celebrate Local History with Above Ground Railroad Project
“I’ve seen the statue in Clinton Square, but I didn’t know what it was before,” 4th grader Ben Edelstein said of the Jerry Rescue monument.In another hallway, three groups of 6th graders were each working on their part of a re-enactment/living history experience in which they prepared to show the Jerry Rescue in three scenes: capture, failed rescue attempt, and rescue.
“I had heard of the Jerry Rescue, but I was surprised to find out that he was arrested. The whole situation of them seizing him and making him a slave was so unfair,” 6th grader A’shari Hill explained. “This happened in our city… it’s important that we learn about our own history.”
Syracuse Latin Administrative Intern Melicia Edwards couldn’t agree more. In fact, that’s exactly why she brought the Above Ground Railroad project to the school!
“As an African American person, I feel like we do the same thing every year for Black History Month,” Ms. Edwards shared. “We talk about the same notable people that we’ve been talking about since I was in school! I thought this was a great opportunity to bring in the community, to do a project-based learning event for the whole school – and why not do it about OUR history? We all know about Martin Luther King and the bus boycott – but there are so many events that happened right here in Syracuse that we don’t talk about often... many that adults don’t even know about. We want students to learn more about their community; and it’s a great way to bring community members in and share our learning with them as well.”
Ms. Edwards provided school staff with a Syracuse Black History Timeline – featuring events (people, places, and groups) such as the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church, Reverend Jermain Wesley Loguen, the Dunbar Association, Syracuse Race Riot, Syracuse NAACP Chapter, the 15th Ward, Sarah Loguen Fraser, Constance Baker Motley, the formation of the Syracuse United Neighbors, founding of the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company, and more. Each class was invited to select their own event to learn more about – and then the students were responsible for deciding how they wanted to present their learning to their classmates.
Second grade students learned about the role Syracuse played in the Underground Railroad – proudly noting that Harriet Tubman lived in Auburn, NY and that a church in downtown Syracuse became a hub for abolitionist efforts.
“It’s really cool that where we live is a place where slaves could be safe,” 2nd grader Eloise Paulsen said.
Eloise and her class created a hallway of bulletin board displays – several of which looked like a string of lanterns… but at closer glimpse, each of which was full of facts about Syracuse’s role in the Underground Railroad.
Fourth graders examined the Black Lives Matter movement, with some students talking about George Floyd and how his death propelled the movement forward.
“It was a moment in history, but it got a lot more popular after that,” 4th grader NiyAire Putnam said. “These things are still happening today, so it’s important that we talk about them.”
One of the key components of these projects was the directive that they remain student-directed and incorporated student choice. Students were each given choice in how to present the information they learned about – with some choosing to make newsletters through Canva or building beautiful trifold display boards, others designing posters and brochures, and more. Ultimately, the project created a sense of community within the classrooms – as it connected students with the community where they live.
“Community is so important – and in the Jerry Rescue, the public came together to support a cause they believed in,” 6th grader Ada Edelstein shared. “People often consider themselves different based on race or social class or other factors. The Jerry Rescue reminds us that we can all come together in a unified way and be a community supporting each other.”
Once student projects were completed, they were displayed throughout the building. On February 27, the school will host its Black Business Expo – welcoming families to tour the building and examine student work. We’re proud of Syracuse Latin students for taking leadership of their learning and educating families through a parent engagement event as well!
