Philosophy

They say...

Meaningful civic education must be rooted in a moral component in which students are taught to confront the choices about right and wrong, rights and obligations, and fairness and justice that underlie responsible participation in democratic societies.

The initial and core idea in the philosophy of the Facing History program is that in order to make sense of the present and future, students need an opportunity to find meaning in the past as well as an opportunity to learn about both the triumphs and the failures of history

We say...

After familiarizing ourselves with Facing History and Ourselves we believe this organization has tremendous potential because it has a unique opportunity to influence young people and help them become politically aware and ready to work towards social change.

Their philosophy creates a unique element to the program in that it's educators believe that students can be trusted to examine history in all of its complexities, including its legacies of prejudice and discrimination, resilience and courage. This trust encourages young people to develop a voice in the conversations of their peers, as well as in the critical discussions and debates of their community and nation.Furthermore it promotes an understanding of different perspectives, competing truths, and the need to comprehend one’s own motives and those of others. Adolescence is a time of major developmental transitions when young people are developing abstract reasoning and beginning to make independent moral judgments. Students need to reflect on their thinking in order to become aware of their own development. By examining the consequences of courage and caring as well as of indifference and apathy, students begin to discover how their own freedom is inextricably bound with that of others. They learn, too, that the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are not abstract ideas but a legacy that must be protected if democracy is not to become the tyranny of the majority.

Facing History and Ourselves is devoted to teaching about the dangers of indifference and the value of civility. Our programs and resources help educators confront the complexities of history in ways that promote critical and creative thinking about the challenges we face and the opportunities we have for positive change.