Shelbyville Central High School Librarian Heather Richards, Co-Teacher Dona Northcutt, and her students in their new Tennessee History class will soon head to Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, thanks to a grant from the American Battlefield Trust’s History Field Trip Grant Program. This trip will provide students with an exceptional, hands-on history learning opportunity. Grants are awarded based on a competitive national application process, demonstrating Ms. Richards’ commitment to excellence in the classroom.
“Mrs. Dona Northcutt and I are co-teaching Tennessee history this year as a new class at SCHS, and we are thrilled and thoroughly grateful to the American Battlefield Trust for helping us be able to take our students to see a national battlefield hands-on. Tennessee played such an important role in the Civil War that allowing the students to stand and witness where actual history was made is truly an exciting addition to our class,” says Richards.
The American Battlefield Trust is the largest battlefield land preservation organization in the country, having saved more than 562,000 acres of hallowed ground across 24 states. Through visiting preserved battlefields and walking in the footsteps of the citizen soldiers who fought there, the Trust aims to provide a foundation of good citizenship for the leaders of tomorrow. The Trust strives to produce excellent educational resources in a variety of formats for both educators and the public alike, ensuring that Americans never forget how their country was forged.
Every year, the Trust receives applications from classrooms nationwide to participate in the History Field Trip Grant Program, which offers funding and assistance to K-12 teachers planning field trips to the Civil War, War of 1812, or Revolutionary War battlefields and related historic sites. During the 2018-2019 school year, more than 7,500 students from 24 states took part.
“These kids get a chance to go to where history was made, where our country was created and defined,” said Trust President David Duncan of the History Field Trip Grant Program recipients, “Battlefields are outdoor classrooms that will teach future Americans about our democratic republic.”
Ms. Richards is enthusiastic about teaching history and is excited to utilize Stones River National Battlefield as an outdoor classroom to give her students a meaningful and memorable experience. The American Battlefield Trust is proud to support and empower such excellent educators as they inspire the next generation of proud Americans.
The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 54,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.
Photo: Teachers Dona Northcutt (far left) and Heather Richards (back row, far right) are pictured with a few of their SCHS Tennessee History students who are excited to explore more with hands-on learning opportunities provided by the grant.
