New Books from Charlesbridge and The Global Fund for Children

The Global Fund for Children has teamed up with Charlesbridge Publishers to distribute two new global education-related children's books—American Babies and Our Grandparents: A Global Album. The Primary Source Library recently received a generous donation of 14 titles from The Global Fund for Children in order to increase the number of global education books available to educators.

Meet the Interns

Primary Source is delighted to have three interns working alongside our staff this summer. Read on for an introduction to each of our talented new hires.

New Distance-Learning Partnerships Announced

Schools across the country now have a new way to take advantage of Primary Source's programs and resources for teachers. Since 2002, Primary Source has offered partnership packages of courses, study tours, and resources to schools in Massachusetts and New England. Through the new "21st Century Professional Development" partnerships, public school districts, and independent schools can access a suite of online courses and workshops on global topics.

Study Tour Blends Service and Travel

In April 2010, 11 educators traveled with Primary Source to the Dominican Republic. The group, which included educators from a variety of grade levels and subject areas, visited both urban and rural parts of the island.

Massachusetts Delegation Returns From China

Primary Source's Executive Director, Kathleen Ennis, recently led a group of 30 school leaders, including Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, Mitchell Chester, on a ten-day specialized tour of the Chinese educational system. The group, which was organized in collaboration with EF Education, also included 12 superintendents and assistant superintendents.

New Resources Available From Boston-Area Consulates

In May 2009, Global Education Massachusetts hosted a panel, Creating Global Schools: A Conversation with the International Community, which brought leaders from the education, business, and policy communities together with members of the consular corps in the Boston area to discuss internationalizing the curriculum of New England schools.

From the Desk of Deb Cunningham: Cultivating Historical Empathy Abroad

Deborah Cunningham is Primary Source's Senior Program Director. She recently traveled abroad to give a series of presentations to educators related to her own research on cultivating historical empathy in secondary students. Here, she summarizes her findings and shares her reflections on the experience.

During the first week of May I was invited to the University of Leuven in Belgium to give three presentations in their Department of Education. The university, founded in 1425, was the alma mater of thinkers like Erasmus, Mercator, and Vesalius, so it was a great honor for me to speak there! I met with groups of preservice and experienced history teachers from all over Flanders, and my topic was the relationship between past and present in the history classroom. This is a subject closely related to my PhD research on what secondary school teachers do to cultivate historical empathy in their students.

Global Education Massachusetts Update

On May 11, 2010, members of Global Education Massachusetts (GEM) met at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston to discuss local and state-wide initiatives in global education.

Red Sox Ticket Raffle

Be a part of the 2010 season! Enter today to win a pair of tickets to the Sunday June 20th game at Fenway against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Don't miss the opportunity to sit in seats valued at $180 in Section 12, Box 101, Row MM, seats 1 & 2.

Single raffle tickets are available for $10, or purchase six tickets for $50. You may purchase tickets online, or by check, made payable to Primary Source, 101 Walnut Street, Watertown, MA 02472. Please include the word "raffle" and your email address on the check.

Primary Source Stands Against Racism

On Wednesday, April 28, more than 80 guests gathered at Primary Source to discuss issues surrounding race and education in Massachusetts. "Where Do We Stand: Schools, Race, and Community in Massachusetts" was organized by Primary Source in conjunction with the YWCA's national Stand Against Racism campaign and featured an introduction by Boston University School of Education Professor Dr. Charles Glenn. Following Dr. Glenn's personal and historical overview of Boston's school desegregation movement, a panel of educators shared a wide range of perspectives on the contemporary challenges and opportunities associated with confronting prejudice, creating supportive school environments, and closing the achievement gap for local students.