Social Justice in the Classroom

Presidential Conspiracies 101 with Stephen Knott – The Teaching History Her Way Podcast

Send us Fan MailConspiracy theories about our presidents aren't a modern invention, they've been part of American politics since the very beginning. In this episode of Teaching History Her Way, I chat  with Stephen Knott, author of Conspirator in Chief (University Press of Kansas), to dig into the long history of presidential conspiracy theories and what they reveal about the presidency and Americans themselves.Stephen shares the throughline connecting suspicion, fear, and power across two centuries of U.S. history, and offers classroom-ready ways to help students separate evidence from speculation. It was really interesting to talk with Stephen and unpack how educators can use this history to help students think critically about our leaders, and how the beliefs they espoused affected the people.Listen for a fascinating look at history's most persistent rumors, how to teach them well, and what we can learn from them about the present.Let's be friends and continue the conversation!Instagram: @teachinghistoryherwayX: http://www.twitter.com/historyherwayOn the Web/Blog: https://www.teachinghistoryherway.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/teachinghistoryherwayBlueSky: @historyherway.bsky.socialSupport the production of the Teaching History Her Way Podcast by purchasing some really great history tees.  Click here to shop now or go to www.teachinghistoryherway.com and click on "Merch."
  1. Presidential Conspiracies 101 with Stephen Knott
  2. From Research to Exhibit: Letting Students Tell the Story of History
  3. Moving Beyond Memorization: Using Hexagonal Thinking to Deepen Student Thinking
  4. Teaching is an Act of Hope
  5. Teaching About Religion with Dr. Tim Hall: Why It Matters and How to Do It

Lindsay defines social justice in the classroom as a foundational and cultural mindset of partnership between teacher and student in which students are talking and grappling with meaningful work that has eyes beyond the teacher and changes the community for the better in some way. Additionally, they are able to see mirrors of their own experiences and backgrounds of their identities as well as step into someone else’s experience through this work. To do the work, and fit it into our classes, she tells us to take a topic that students are talking about and then use our historical knowledge and pedagogical background to bring those issues into the class by designing our lessons from the present to the past. She recommends the Social Justice Framework from Learning for Justice as a way to guide you through making work developmentally appropriate.

Lindsay also makes the excellent point that you need to make your classroom a place where students are prepared and ready to talk about the issues at hand as well as be able to work through disagreements. She’s so generously given us a template for Circle Planning, which is a really great discussion method, for our students. Get your free Circle Planning Template here!

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