This year at Bornblum, students are engaged with the study of civics more deeply than ever before.
According to Bornblum teacher, Cindy VanGunda, “Part of our school’s mission is to inspire students to become ‘socially responsible community leaders with a life-long connection to their Jewish identity.’ Deciding to infuse civics learning naturally into our current curricula across all grades and subjects has allowed our students to develop a better understanding of important people, places, and events that helped create our American history.”
Second Grader Nev decked out in American gear
The commitment to renewed civic education began at the 2023-2024 Civic Spirit conference in New York, where three teachers, including Mrs. VanGunda, Mrs. Stephanie Osher and Morah Michal Almalem, represented Bornblum in the teacher cohort. These teachers became passionate about civics education and brought that civic spirit back to Memphis.
Throughout this school year, classes have studied American civics in ways that mesh with their curriculum. These learning opportunities were interactive and experiential, designed not just to teach civics, but to excite students about being citizens of America. Students benefitted from the extra layer of learning about what it means to be Jewish Americans and the unique engagement of the Jewish community with American democracy.
According to Almalem, “Infusing students with a sense of patriotism is a challenge in schools these days, and we wanted our civic spirit program not only to teach facts about America, but to challenge students and faculty to explore their patriotism.”
Fourth Graders waving American Flags during a Veterans’ Day program
All of the civics lessons and experiences throughout the year were done with the goal of curating a meaningful and interactive Civic Spirit Fair during the winter term. The students succeeded by creating incredible thoughtful exhibits for the Bornblum community to explore, centered around five themes.
The first two areas were We the People, which explored American foundations and From Many Places, One Nation which offered perspectives on immigration to America. Following time exploring immigration stories, students explored Journeys and Identities: the American Jewish Experience that focused on the unique experience of American Jews. Next, students turned to Citizenship and Civics: Conservation and Community, through which they explored their responsibility as stewards of America’s land and natural resources. Finally, students explored material under the banner of “Standing for Freedom,” where exhibits challenged students to engage in the fight for freedom for all Americans.
A voting exhibit from the Civic Spirit Curriculum Fair
An Emma Lazarus display at the Civic Spirit Curriculum Fair
According to Jill Cross, Bornblum’s Director of Curriculum and Instruction, the school wanted to dive below the surface and explore people, places and events that are often overlooked in traditional curricula.
“We touched stories like that of Mordecai Sheftall, the highest-ranking Jewish Patriot in the American Revolution, and Medal of Honor recipient David Urbansky. These lessons gave students a deeper understanding of how Jewish individuals have influenced and been shaped by America’s commitment to liberty, equality, and religious freedom.”
From VanGunda’s perspective, the goal of engaging with Civic Spirit at Bornblum was to help students understand that, “Whether they are exercising the right to vote, learning skills for civil discourse, or knowing how to protect our environment and help in conservation efforts, as Jewish Americans, our students are now empowered to create the future they want for tomorrow’s generation.”
Second Grader Amariyah says the Pledge of Allegiance
“I love working in a school where we are constantly looking at the intersections between being Jewish and the world around us,” said Cross. “These connections were so evident throughout the fair. For example, students explored George Washington’s letter to the Jews of Newport, allowing them to connect the nation’s early foundations of religious freedom with the contributions of Jewish Americans to its core values.”
