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When I was in fifth grade and new to suburbia, my teacher introduced the concepts of racism, civil rights and fairness. And she began the task of helping 10-years olds—all of us white—learn how to talk about race in constructive ways. I’d moved from a gritty urban neighborhood where whites, blacks and Puerto Ricans lived together rather warily. My parents maintained a chilly silence on the issue of race, although they forbade racial epithets; on the street I heard plenty. In this place, the black kids came mostly from the projects, the Puerto Ricans lived in apartments and the better-off among the white families might have an entire house. I knew that race divided.

Now, more than ever, the teaching of Reconstruction needs to be a central component of history education in high school.

A recent Cheerios commercial reminds us of the historical roots of race in the United States. Those roots still cause social and political upset.

Start a conversation about sexual harassment and assault—or respond effectively when your students do—with these resources from the TT archives.

This weekend's #MarchforOurLives demonstrations in Washington, D.C., and around the world show the power of student activism. This TT staffer and former elementary teacher has some recommendations for talking with students about the march.