This year Lippitt House Museum’s Civics Program for English Language Learners won an Excellence in History Award from the American Association for State and Local History (see announcement). In this blog, we ask our own Cathy Saunders, who has managed the program for the last seven years, some questions about the program that she and Museum Associate Jane Bird teach.
What is Lippitt House Museum’s Civics Program for English Language Learners?
Many immigrants living in Rhode Island are on a path to integrate into the community. To help meet that need, Lippitt House Museum offers a four-part civics program for adult immigrants who are learning English. We visit English and citizenship-prep classes (on Zoom or in-person) to present interactive lessons connecting RI and US history with topics on the US Citizenship and Immigration Services civics test [1}. For example, many students know places named for Roger Williams but do not know why, so we look at his role as a colonist and champion of religious freedom, which are themes that show up in the citizenship test. Another activity we do is examine the 1875 census record from Lippitt House to start a discussion about the gradual expansion of voting rights in our history. Our goal is that these lessons will help students feel more connected to local history and to answer the citizenship test questions with more confidence.
Class field trips to Lippitt House are always a highlight. For some, this is their first visit to a museum in this country. We share many of the same stories about the family and Providence history that we do on our standard guided tours, but we tailor the narratives to the class discussions.
How Did a Victorian House Museum Get Involved with Adult Literacy Programs?
Nineteenth century immigration played a big part in this country’s Second Industrial Revolution, and it transformed Providence and Rhode Island. Henry Lippitt employed immigrants as workers in his textile mills and in the building of Lippitt House. Immigrants also worked for and lived under the same roof with the Lippitts as servants. The immigrant experience is interwoven with the history of the house.
Because of this history and the museum’s mission “to contribute to a vibrant civil society by activating a place where art, history and community converge,” we are uniquely positioned to fill this community need. Celebrating Lippitt House’s immigrant history by educating immigrants today is a natural fit.
Who are the Students Who Participate in the Program?
The ESOL (English speakers of Other Languages) students we work with are all enrolled in classes at local literacy organizations. Currently, we partner with Dorcas International, Genesis Center, and RIFLI (RI Family Literacy Initiative, Providence Public Library). They offer classes for adults who are learning English, and most are pursuing citizenship. Museum staff work with the class instructors and provide the civics lessons as “guest teachers.”
The students in these classes come from all over the world: Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Some of them have lived in Rhode Island for a number of years; others are newer immigrants from countries like Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Haiti. Their skill and US history knowledge levels vary greatly, but what unites them is a commitment to make this community their home, and they all enjoy the splendor of Lippitt House.
What Lessons Have You Learned Doing This Program?
We have all learned so much! First, English is a really difficult language to learn (I’m still mastering explaining the word “poll,” which has multiple nuanced definitions and sounds like “pole”). Second, we’ve learned how to make complex history simple to understand, while still being accurate. We consult with ESOL instructors and history resources to do this. To make a history lesson stick, we reinforce learning goals and big ideas with strong visual and verbal prompts.
Another important lesson is that our community partners are constantly adapting to the changing needs of their student clients. We see changes in which countries are represented, the levels of students’ English proficiency, and the desires for online vs in person instruction. During online classes, students sometimes participate from the car, while caring for children, or even join in from work. This means our program has to be adaptable, and the curriculum is revised over time.
What’s Next for the Civics Program?
Thanks to funding from individual donors, RI Humanities, and Papitto Opportunity Connection, we are already making arrangements with our community partners for next year’s classrooms. We also are planning a big celebration at Lippitt House for community members and students who have participated in the program. Stay tuned!
To read more about the program lessons, read this previous blog post.
To support this program with a donation to Lippitt House Museum, click here.
[1} During the citizenship application process the Civics (History and Government) Questions for the Naturalization Test is given to assess an applicant’s knowledge of US government, history, and geography. To see the questions and test yourself go to: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/questions-and-answers/100q.pdf.
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