Teaching Reparations Won
All photos: Sarah-Ji
As part of the 2015 Ordinance, the history of torture committed under the direction of disgraced Police Commander Jon Burge and the fight waged by survivors and their allies for justice have been incorporated into the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) 8th and 10th grade history curriculum. The curriculum includes lessons for three to five week classes – titled “Reparations Won: A Case Study in Police Torture, Racism And the Movement for Justice in Chicago.”
Resources
Want to bring the curriculum to life, wherever you are? Read on for resources to go deeper into this critical piece of the Reparations Ordinance.
The Chicago Torture Justice Center partners with the Chicago Teachers Union, Chicago Teachers Union Foundation, and Chicago Public Schools to support educators in bringing the curriculum to their classrooms. CTJC also coordinates a Speakers Bureau where survivors and family members share their personal testimony about their experiences and perspective regarding incarceration, the reparations campaign, and the ongoing work at the Center. Click below to request a speaker.
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Tip Sheet for Educators
Created collaboratively by the Chicago Teachers Union Foundation and Chicago Public Schools, the Tip Sheet is designed to support educators teaching the Reparations Won Curriculum. Designed for facilitators in Chicago and beyond, it is full of resources to bring stories of resistance and conversations on race and racism into the classroom, with insights from educators who have taught the curriculum.
Videos
We sat down with survivors, educators, and organizers to talk about the decision to include a curriculum in the Reparations Ordinance and the importance of teaching these lessons in Chicago Public Schools. Click below for the full playlist.
See sample materials from the curricula below. Click on any image to enlarge or download the full curricula at the top of the page.
