Lessons Aligned to the State Social Studies Curriculum Will Highlight Kennedy’s Commitment to Social Justice
Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein, New York State United Teachers President Richard C. Iannuzzi, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights, and the New York State Education Department today announced a new series of lesson plans focusing on the life and legacy of Robert F. Kennedy. The lesson plans, which are aligned to the state social studies curriculum, will highlight Kennedy’s commitment to social justice for 4th, 8th, and 11th-grade students in New York City and across the State. The lesson plans were developed collaboratively by the Robert F. Kennedy Center, New York State Governor David Paterson, the State Education Department (SED), and New York State United Teachers (NYSUT).
American Federation of Teachers President Weingarten and NYSUT President Iannuzzi led a class of 11th grade students through one of the new lessons at the Robert F. Kennedy Community High School in Flushing.
“Robert F. Kennedy dedicated his life to advancing civil rights and social justice, both as U.S. Attorney General and as a senator from New York,” Chancellor Klein said. “I can think of no better way to commemorate his values and achievements than by providing students the opportunity to learn from his legacy of public service.”
“As teachers share the lessons, students across New York State will be inspired to recognize courage in themselves,” said Kerry Kennedy, the seventh of Kennedy’s 11 children. “Robert F. Kennedy’s legacy lives on in countless individuals who fight for justice around the world —and in every child who is inspired by his legacy to ‘speak up, speak out.’”
“The dominant theme of Robert Kennedy’s remarkable life was his commitment to social justice,” said NYSUT President Iannuzzi. “We’re thrilled to be able to help today’s students learn about the many ways Robert Kennedy advocated for those who were unable to advocate for themselves.”
“Robert Kennedy championed equality, opportunity, education and social justice. His vision offered leadership, hope and compassion in one of the most tumultuous times in America's history,” AFT President Weingarten said. “Kennedy said in one of his most celebrated speeches: ‘Our answer is the World's hope; it is to rely on youth.’ His dedication to youth and the principles he led by must not be forgotten.”
The rollout of the lesson plans is tied to the recent renaming of New York City’s Triborough Bridge in honor of the former U.S. Senator from New York, who was running for president when he was assassinated in June 1968. The lesson plans were produced over the summer by a team of 14 teachers, as well as staff from SED and the office of Governor Paterson, the Robert F. Kennedy Center, and former colleagues of Robert F. Kennedy. The project is underwritten in part by a generous contribution from The Rockefeller Foundation.
The lesson plans, which are voluntary, have been distributed to 21,000 teachers, principals, superintendents, and other educators in New York, and are aligned with the New York State social studies standards and curriculum. The lesson plans are entitled “Speak Up, Speak Out” and are available, along with related materials, at www.nysut.org/rfk.