Black History Month is a designated time each year to celebrate African Americans’ achievements, contributions, and legacy. At Compass Charter Schools (Compass), a free TK-12 public school serving Los Angeles, San Diego, Yolo, and surrounding counties, February is also a chance to remember that black history is shared history.
“Being that Black history IS history, it’s something I try to cover all year long, not just in February,” said Sharon Rosen, Compass High School TeacherWe encourage learning coaches (parents) in both our Options (home study) and Online Learning Programs to make history relevant to students’ lives. They do this by incorporating insightful lessons found in the following resources: Center for Racial Justice in Education, History of Behind Black History Month, and the Do’s and Don’ts of Teaching Black History.
A Compass Charter Schools’ scholar shares their inventor of choice, George Washington Carver, project at the Black History Month assembly.
This year we asked the scholars to research inventors. African Americans have been responsible for some of the most important inventions of the past century. Three key examples include modern innovations like the traffic signal, peanuts, and the fax machine.
- The traffic signal, invented by Garrett Morgan in 1923, is one of the most important inventions of the modern era. This invention was especially important for improving safety at road crossings, and it is still used to this day.
- George Washington Carver (1864-1943): Developed hundreds of products from peanuts and other agricultural products, including paints, dyes, and plastics.
- Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson (1946-present): Invented the portable fax machine and developed the theory of alternative-current tunneling, which led to the development of the modern cellular phone.
Inventors like Garrett Morgan, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, and countless others made significant contributions to our society and are an inspiration to us all. By honoring the accomplishments of African Americans during Black History Month, we can continue to celebrate their legacy and the great contributions that they have made to our society.
Consider Compass if you are looking for personalized learning opportunities for your scholar that embrace diversity and equity all year ‘round (not just in February). We’re enrolling today!
About Compass
Compass Charter Schools (Compass) is the Gold Standard in Personalized Learning for innovative, creative self-learners. We celebrate diversity & equity in our tuition-free public school – every scholar belongs in our tailored education programs: Online and Options home study. As one of California’s leading WASC-accredited virtual charter schools of choice, we nurture a curiosity for lifelong learning. Every TK-12 scholar and learning coach (our term for parents) is fully supported with in-house counselors, welcoming staff, and talented accredited teachers. Additionally, we are the only virtual Purple Star School in California, and one of few virtual AVID programs in the nation. Join our collaborative virtual learning community. Rise and Soar with our Firebirds – enroll with Compass today!