“Now, through this curriculum, the lessons of a major national catastrophe implore us to reexamine our national soul.”
—Wynton Marsalis, Artistic Director, Jazz at Lincoln Center
“‘Teaching The Levees’ is a clarion call to action. . . . By aiming at both the heart and mind, this curriculum nurtures the passion, conviction, courage, and creativity our students will need if they are to confront future threats to our democracy.”
-- Gene R. Carter, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
“Hurricane Katrina was instructive on many levels. It reminds us why we have government and why we need it. It also reminds us that race, class and poverty still play a role in the response of government and makes civic engagement all the more important.”
-- Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League
“The units developed by Teachers College, Columbia University on the Katrina catastrophe open a window into the soul of America itself. Brilliantly conceived activities invite students and teachers to use Katrina as an avenue to examine their own communities and to raise questions about the national experience.”
-- Sylvia R. Frey, Professor of History Emerita, Tulane University
“The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina and our response to it have been a test of our civic values. This curriculum provides an opportunity to educate students about our shared values as a nation. It reminds us not only of the importance of community but also that our concerns as citizens should not end at the borders of our community. “;
-- Pascal D. Forgione, Jr., Superintendent, Austin Independent School District
“George Santayana’s oft-quoted statement that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it appropriately describes the reason why the ‘Teaching The Levees’ curriculum is so vital. It is a civic duty for all teachers and educators to engage with this work.”
-- Gloria Ladson-Billings, Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Past President, AERA
“In the days, weeks and months following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, many Americans called for a ‘national con-versation’ on race and poverty. Nearly two years later, the silence is deafening. ‘Teaching The Levees’ . . . steps into that void. Kudos for having the foresight and the courage to give our nation another chance to strike up this ‘conversation!’”
-- Gregory A. Thomas, National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, Author of Freedom from Fear: A Guide to Safety, Preparedness and the Threat of Terrorism
“‘Teaching The Levees’ provides guidance for instruction and helps assure that biases are carefully considered, facts examined in context, and critical thinking skills applied.”
-- Margaret M. Altoff, President, National Council for the Social Studies
“It is important that we continue the crucial conversation started by the disaster by exploring our expectations of government and our mutual obligations to each other as citizens. We hope that ‘Teaching The Levees’ will help in that process.”
-- Judith Rodin, President, The Rockefeller Foundation
“‘Teaching The Levees’ enables participants to both draw upon and stand apart from their gut emotional responses as they develop an understanding of both the complexity of the Katrina crisis and the myriad social, economic, and governmental issues it raises.”
-- Susan Fuhrman, President, Teachers College, Columbia University
