What Is Sourcing? Excerpts
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORY/ LESSON 1.2ACTIVITYWHAT IS SOURCING? (EXCERPTS)Unless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “What Is Sourcing? (Excerpts),”OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/1School RecessChangesin Anytown, USAIntroduction:This collection of documents presents the reactionsof different people and groups in the communityto a new policy. Examine everyone’s reactions to determine why this was such a controversial topic. This is something historians do all the time to understand the past: They look at the past from different people’s perspectives to understand the historical importance of that event. This is typically referred to as sourcing. Use these excerpts to complete the What Is Sourcing?activity.Document #1: Transcript from Local News StoryNews Anchor:Good evening and welcome to tonight’s top story. A local elementaryschool has recently made a controversial decision to ban recessfor its students. This decision has sparked a debate among the school leaders, parents, and the student body. Our reporters have been on the scene, gathering opinions from all sides.Reporter:We spoke with the school leadersabout their reasoning behind this decision. They explained that there have been concerns about the safety of students during recess. Some students have gotten injured on the playground. Reporter:We also spoke with a parent who has a child that attends the school.He expressed concern about the impact that this decision will have on the students. He’s worried that the ban on recesswill lead to a decline in mental health. He stated that being able to go outside and take a break during the school day is important for his daughter’s physical and mental well-being. Reporter:Finally, we spoke with some students about their thoughts on the ban. They expressed disappointment, stating that they enjoyed having a break from sitting in their desks. Some students also mentioned that they will miss the opportunity to hang outwith their friends.News Anchor:As you can see, this decision has sparked a range of reactions from different groups. It’s clear that there are valid concerns from all interested parties. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORY/ LESSON 1.2ACTIVITYWHAT IS SOURCING? (EXCERPTS)2Document #2: Letter from the Principal to the School CommunityDear School Community,I am writing to inform you about a recent decision that has been made by the school leaders regarding recess for elementaryschool students. Starting with the next school term, students will no longer be allowed to play outside during recess.This decision was not made lightly. We recognize that recesshas been a long-standing tradition for our lower-school students. However, there have been several incidents in recent months that have prompted us to reevaluate this practice.First, we have noticed an increase in misconductissues associated with recess. There have been many reported injuries during this time. Additionally, somestudents have gotten into fights. We understand that this decision may be disappointing for some of our students, but we hope that they can appreciate our reasons for making this change. Our primary goal is to create a safe and supportive learning environment for all our students, and we believe that this decision will help us achieve this objective.Thank you for your understanding as we implement this new policy. Sincerely, Principal Jennings
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORY/ LESSON 1.2ACTIVITYWHAT IS SOURCING? (EXCERPTS)3Document #3: Upper-School StudentClass Officer’s SpeechI know that many of us are disappointed by the recent decision to ban recess. It is a change that affects the students in the lower school, but we all remember how much fun it was to have this break in the school day. I want to encourage you to take action and work together to changethis decision.We can make our voices heard by expressing our concerns and opinions to the school’s leaders. As the school’supper-class officer, I am committed to voicing ourrights as students. We can gather feedback and suggestions from our classmatesand present them to the school’s leaders in arespectful manner.We can brainstorm ideas and propose alternative policies that address the concerns that prompted this decision. By working togetherand compromising, we can find a solution that works for everyone.In conclusion, I want to remind you that we have the power to make a difference. We can work together to argue againstthis decision, make our voices heard, and find a solution that meets the needs of both the school’s leadersand the student body. Let us take action and create a positive change that benefits the entire school community.Thank you.
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORY/ LESSON 1.2ACTIVITYWHAT IS SOURCING? (EXCERPTS)4Document #4: Letter from a Parentto the School AdministrationDear School Administration,We were disappointed to hear about the recent decision to ban recessfor elementary-school students. As a parent of two children in the upper schooland one child who is still a lower-school student, I amconcerned about the impact that this decision will have on all students.Children thrive in school when they have breaks that allow them to get up out of their desks, leave their classrooms, and engage in outdoor play with others in the school community. With the ban on recess, we fear that the children will be less focused during learning time. This will have a negative impact on our children’s performance in school and their mental health.We understand the safety concerns behind the school’s decision to ban recess. However, we believe that there are alternative solutions that can address the concerns of the school administration without hurting the children. We would appreciate the opportunity to work with the school administration to find a solution that meets everyone’s needs.Thank you for your consideration.Sincerely,A Concerned Parent