One of the great things about raising children in Virginia is the rich history – you don’t need to travel far to learn about the people and places who shaped the Commonwealth, and even the U.S.
Prior to embarking on a family field trip, I like to give background knowledge to my children, so they will understand why what they are seeing is important. I follow a simple process – read, learn and go!
Ready to try it on your own? Here’s the easy to follow plan I used to teach my children about Barbara Johns of Farmville, and her impact on the Civil Rights movement. At only 15 years old, Johns led a large group of peers in a protest of the inequality of her school. This protest led to the 1954 Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education.
To educate my children about Barabara Johns and 1950s America, we read the book:The Girl from the Tar Paper School: Barbara Rose Johns and the Advent of the Civil Rights Movement. The book teaches them segregation and how Barbara and her community positively affected change. Importantly, there are images of her school in the book that your children can draw back on during your family field trip.
Now that you’ve read and learned, it’s time to go! Head to the Robert Russa Moton Museum in Farmville, about 1 hour from Richmond. The museum has six galleries that tell the story of the school and Johns’ call to action in chronological order.
Gallery two talks about the “tar paper shack” classroom; making this an easy way to bring the book your family read previously, to life. The timeline of the galleries makes the history come to life in a comprehensible way for children. Admission to the museum is free; donations accepted.
An alternate plan, if you’re unable or don’t want to make the drive to Farmville, is to walk around Capitol Square. There is a beautiful sculpture of Barbara Johns and her fellow students.
While parts of Virginia’s history are difficult; the lesson from Barbara Johns and the R.R. Moton Museum is the power of courage and standing up for what is right. While these lessons can be learned anytime, consider trying this “read-learn-go” experience during Black History Month in February – to remind us of the achievements of Black Americans. Alternatively, try this right before the kids head back to school, as you reinforce the importance of speaking up for others, and being brave.
