The Need for Advocacy: the Contributions the Civil War Community Can Enhance to Education

Emerging Civil War welcomes Andrew C. M. Mizsak

In the Civil War community, we focus our attention and efforts on those who share a common interest with us. We feel comfortable talking to our own organizations, other Round Tables, historical organizations, and occasionally to a civic group or two that share our understanding and appreciation of the many aspects of the Civil War.

But there is another group that we should reach out to in order to advocate the importance of Civil War history. Whether it takes shape in the form of presentations, living history, or other events, Civil War history is an important part of the educational framework of any community.

Over the past several decades, the advent of standardized testing has forced schools to adjust their curricular offerings to focus on math and reading, thus reducing an emphasis on history, civics education, and science. Some social studies classes have become an extension of a reading class, while others, like economics, are oftentimes treated like a math class.

What we offer with the Civil War emphasis is special: It combines language arts when we speak in the 19th-century vernacular, the fine arts when there are performances of Civil War-era music or photography, and, of course, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics when battles or field hospitals are studied. Then it all gets wrapped up in a bow of history and civics education. When we provide a multi-disciplinary event, the Civil War community touches on nearly every academic discipline.

Those who are engaged in educational policy need to receive this message, including school board members, district superintendents or curriculum directors, building principals, and, when you can, teachers.

When giving a presentation or teaching a class, I explain to the audience that my job is to convey a lesson or an idea in a manner that will be remembered. What I must accomplish is to motivate those before me to wrap their heads and their hearts around the subject. Immersive education, such as a living history event, where a student or a teacher can experience life as it was, or participation (to a certain extent) in the events of the time period, are not only the types of activities that build memories that will last a lifetime, but have the potential to establish the connection with your organization and your local school district, scout group, or community organization.

This is advocacy, not only to your community, but also to a new and broader audience.

For several decades, we’ve become aware of the decline of participation in Civil War-related organizations. But we do possess the ability to enhance our outreach to a public who may have never been exposed to the benefits that our organizations offer.

How do we advocate to others? How do we urge them to give us a chance at being a part of the educational framework of a community, and prove to them that our organizations offer a vital and necessary service?

By establishing the following easy steps, your organization might find itself in a position to build and cultivate relationships with educators, schools, and other historical or civic organizations:

1. Reach out to the leadership of your local school district, such as the superintendent or the members of the school board.
2. Invite them to a meeting or an event where your organization will be participating, so they can see your group and observe the talents and knowledge of your members in action.
3. Create materials that can be easily duplicated to be used to augment programming and enhance a lesson or two home.
4. Make inquiries of the needs related to historical or civics education in your community.
5. Have regular conversations with local educational leaders.

Many of our organizations have existed for years and enjoy the reputation of being community anchors and trusted sources of Civil War information. Our organizations have the opportunity to become the recognized subject matter experts to others who seek the information and knowledge we provide.

By the development of a budding relationship with those educational leaders and institutions, your organization will find itself in the position of receiving the first phone call when the subject of the Civil War is brought up.

Advocacy of this nature is necessary and meaningful and will yield a positive return for your organization. It promises to broaden your audiences and possibly increase your membership and supporters.

Andrew C.M. Mizsak, M.A.P., MBM, is the secretary of the Civil War Round Table Congress and vice commander of the James A. Garfield CWRT