Topeka Collegiate students explore life of famous slave
Special exhibit supplements school's study of Africans journey to U.S.
11:33 a.m. Thursday, January 11, 2007
Students at Topeka Collegiate School are learning about Frederick Douglass.
"It was amazing what he did and how he did it," said 8th grader Maggie Ault. "I learned that he wrote a book on his slavery and that he struggled so many times and that he tried so many things to get out of slavery."
Born a slave in 1818 Frederick Douglass broke the law by learning to read and write. He escaped and later became one of the most influential lecturers and authors in American history speaking against slavery and championing equal rights.
The students are learning the history of Douglass through a special exhibit board sent to the school from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
"I thought it was really neat that we could get such a prestigious exhibit in our school," said 8th Grader Joel Billinger.
Additional info
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has a variety of traveling exhibits. The Institute will loan them to educational institutions, museums and historical sites. The Frederick Douglass exhibit will be at Topeka Collegiate through Jan. 31. The public can visit the exhibit Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., just stop by the office first.
The Topeka Collegiate School is located at 2200 SW Eveningside Drive, Topeka, KS. You may call them at (785) 228-0490.
Founded in 1994 one of the goals of the Gilder Lehrman Institute is to promote American history across the nation.
Social Studies Teacher Travis Lamb says Topeka Collegiate received the board in part because this year they are studying the African Diaspora.
"The African Diaspora is the dispersion of African people across the world," he said. "And in particular we're focusing on the African American experiences here in the United States."
Maggie says she's proud her school is studying African American history.
"I'm glad they try to get as many things from history of Black, African American women and men in our school so we can learn more about them," she said. "'Cause I would never know what Frederick Douglass, who he was or what happened to him."
Travis says the exhibit is not just about a historical person, but about taking action through education.
"I think for a school, part of our duty to be charged with is not only educating, but teaching children what to do with that education. And Frederick Douglass is an excellent example of how you can make a positive change in the community based on education and based on courage," Travis said. "And taking action and doing something about something that you see is a ill or wrong in the world in trying to change that and make it right."
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