![Hosting the SCLA Casptone Mentor Dinner outside allowed for more attendees on September 27, 2021 at Silver Creek. This event would’ve usually been held inside. According to Lauren Kohn, a SCLA 12 teacher, “If we have a higher number of people, as long as we can host the event outside, then that seems to be keeping every[one] safe”.](https://schsnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/sxMAIGbSYGodZkqmrvTi5YWcJ1ssWA08ApkeMLpp-900x675.jpeg)
After garnering attention nationwide, the AP African American Studies class has begun its first year at Silver Creek High School. This year, a total of 32 students are enrolled in the class, two juniors and 30 seniors. Bryon Booher has been preparing to teach this course for over two years.
The class focuses on United States history through the lens of African Americans. However, it doesn’t just focus on the history; the class also examines music, art, speeches, poems, books, and other literary works of the time periods. The goal of the class is to understand not only the oppression and obstacles that many African Americans faced, but also the methods of resistance and resilience that helped shape the African American identity.
This unique blend of topics has had a significant impact on the students enrolled.
”I like it because we talk about more controversial topics,” junior Charlie Henry said. “It’s better than a regular history class because we integrate art, primary documents, and music into it.”
The class is divided into four parts. Unit One, Origins of the African Diaspora; Unit Two, Freedom, Enslavement, and Resistance; Unit Three, The Practice of Freedom; and Unit Four, Movements and Debates. With a focus on discussion and self-guided learning, the class is unique compared to other US History classes like AP US History or AP US Government.
“I like the way the notes are set up, because it’s guided and you can guide yourself through the book and the textbook,” senior Sanjay Osbirn said.
The class follows the College Board’s Course and Exam Description (CED) throughout the learning objectives and primary documents. However, discussions are a major part of the class to help push students’ understanding of the material.
“I think it’s better [than AP US History] because I think Mr Booher does a nice job incorporating more discussions than a regular AP class,” Henry said. “It’s more fun than a regular AP class.”
Though the class and most of its material are self-guided, the lectures and discussions are led by Booher and follow the College Board’s CED.
“It definitely is not just teachers going on a tangent about things they want to talk about; the course is very much tied to required sources, which are really interesting, but also required learning objectives,” Booher said.
Though not all students like the discussions, the material is appreciated by students for the perspectives on US history that it gives.
”I think it gives us a perspective that we wouldn’t have gained if we hadn’t taken this class.” Isa Sequiera, a senior in the class, said.
Booher wants students to appreciate the material, even if the class format isn’t their style.
“I want it to be a class where it doesn’t have to be [for] your traditional AP student,” Booher said.
Booher has been teaching US history for 12 years at Silver Creek High School, so taking up a new class like this is a challenge, but it is important for him.
“It has been an aspect of US history that’s been interesting to me,” Booher said. “I think subjects like reconstruction, I realised as a young teacher and a historian, that those subjects have been mis-taught a lot of times in regular US history classes.”
Many students gain a new perspective on US history from the class, and hopefully, more students will be able to take the class and learn about American history through a different lens.
