Teaching labor in the schools: New opportunities
By Deborah Rosenstein
2 May 2010| MINNEAPOLIS - To provide more resources for teaching about workers and labor history, the Labor Education Service has released a new video and website devoted to teaching about the Minneapolis truckers’ strikes of 1934. LES also has embarked on a new student-focused project documenting the history of the state Capitol. |
| Meanwhile, the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the United Association for Labor Education have all passed resolutions supporting the expansion of labor-in-the-schools efforts. Some states, including Wisconsin, have passed legislation requiring labor history to be taught in the schools.  Multimedia classroom resources available The 1934 strike by Minneapolis Teamsters was the most important single event in Minnesota labor history and paved the way for landmark federal worker rights legislation. Yet few Minnesota students learn about this important struggle. LES hopes to address this need through a new website, video and curriculum titled “Minneapolis Truckers Make History.” An 18-minute film, designed for classroom use, chronicles the strike and helps students connect their own lives with people in the 1930s. The video streams on the website, www.minneapolis1934.org and is also available to purchase on DVD through LES and theMinnesota Historical Society. While supplies last, Minnesota teachers may request one free copy for classroom use. Interested teachers should contactles@umn.edu. Minneapolis1934.org contains a wealth of resources, including participatory |