Center for Technology and Teacher Education - Social Studies Module: Zeal for teaching

Procedures:

Introduction: Willie Lee Rose's Rehearsal for Reconstruction: The Port Royal Experiment details the take over by Union troops of Port Royal Island, South Carolina. On November 1861 Union troops captured the Island shortly after white plantation owners abandoned their possessions for the safety inland. The Island along with its ten thousand slaves remained in the possession of Union troops through out the war and became an experimental lab for Reconstruction. One of many arguments put forward by Rose in her book related to education. She argued that education for freed slaves on the island was promoted with an "organizing zeal" that was "astounding" (p. 233).

Introduce the story of Port Royal, South Carolina and the idea that education for African Americans was approached with zeal. Have students read and summarize pages 233 - 237 from Rose's book.

After introducing the story of Port Royal have students define the word zeal. In addition, discuss the context of the use of the word by Rose. One definition of zeal is provided below

"Eagerness bordering on fervent passion in pursuit of something. Zeal is related to {fanaticism}, except that zeal usually means great enthusiasm in a positive sense, whereas fanaticism implies blind unreasoning devotion. Zeal is normally considered a ``good thing'', especially in connection with spiritual matters. When Jesus threw merchants out of the temple in Jerusalem, his disciples realized it was in fulfillment of the prophecy that says: However, the throwees probably viewed Jesus' zeal as fanaticism. The adjective zealous is sometimes mispronounced ZEL-ee-us."

Students should search the Reconstruction archive at the Valley of the Shadow to find documents supporting the argument put forward by Rose.

Have students write a response to the following question. To what extent did the organization of schools for freed slaves in Franklin and Augusta counties proceed with "zeal?"