The George and Ann Richards Civil War Era Center Teachers' Institute invites K-12 teachers to participate in its 2003 summer program, "Freedom Struggles from Slavery to Civil Rights," at Penn State University, June 23-27. This program is ideal for teachers seeking ways to address diversity issues in the classroom.

Institute participants will work with Penn State faculty to expand their knowledge of slavery and emancipation, freedom struggles in the American south, and the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. The program will familiarize teachers with the latest scholarship on these topics, resources for teaching about freedom and freedom struggles, and practical ways to introduce these topics in the classroom. A field trip to Washington, DC, to tour prominent historical sites related to slavery and freedom is included. Participants will complete a final project that may include, but is not limited to, lessons plans that are due later in the summer.

Participating teachers will earn three graduate credits, and Pennsylvania residents will earn Act 48 hours. The Institute will accept notification from a teacher's school district verifying that tuition will be covered by the district in order to facilitate advanced registration. In addition to tuition, participants are responsible for travel to and from the Institute and food. Participants coming from outside of Centre County PA may stay free of charge on the Penn State University Park campus.