Studying past to learn about present

Leon Fink, UIC distinguished professor of history, and Robert Johnston, professor of history and director of UIC’s Teaching of History program. A UIC summer program for local educators connects the past and present.

Chicago-area teachers and their students learn about the present by studying the past with the help of a UIC summer program for local educators.

“Rethinking the Gilded Age and Progressivisms: Race, Capitalism, and Democracy, 1877-1920” is a four-week summer institute for 30 school teachers, kindergarten through high school, who study American society and politics from more than a century ago.

The program received a $198,000 grant renewal from the National Endowment for the Humanities for summer 2016.

“We are excited that the NEH has honored us with another opportunity to connect past and present again next year, “said Robert Johnston, project co-director and academic director.

“We have been thrilled — but not surprised — at the level of thoughtfulness, engagement and commitment to scholarly inquiry of the 30 teachers whom we brought to the institute again this summer.”

The institute features discussions, lectures and research on the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era. Participants take related historical and cultural outings in Chicago.

The teachers develop lesson plans to help their students connect knowledge and understanding of the era with current events.

In addition to Johnston, professor of history and director of UIC’s Teaching of History program, other UIC faculty and staff involved with the program are Leon Fink, distinguished professor of history, Jeff Sklansky, associate professor of history, plus special collections staff in the UIC Library and Jane Addams Hull-House Museum.

Loyola University and the Chicago Metro History Education Center are external program partners.