The Different Drummers lessons and activities grow out
of a two-year curriculum development project in which the material was teacher reviewed, classroom
tested, and then revised on the basis of pilot testing with students. The
California State Department of Education approved the resulting module for
legal compliance with respect to social content. Thanks to all the
following:
Review Teachers on the development of Different Drummers were:
Mary Cook, Washington Unified School District, West
Sacramento
Patricia Hardy, Claremont Unified School District, Claremont
Alan Haskvitz, Walnut Valley Unified School District, Walnut
Cammy Henderson, Palmdale School District, Palmdale
Freda Kelly, Truman Middle School, Fontana
Carol Storey, Yolo County Schools, Woodland
Christine Zukowski, Rowland Unified School District, Rowland
Heights
Pilot Teachers of the Different Drummers were:
Ted Barone, Giannini Middle School, San Francisco
Mary Cook, Washington Unified School District, West
Sacramento
Patricia Hardy, Claremont Unified School District, Claremont
Alan Haskvitz, Walnut Valley Unified School District, Walnut
Cammy Henderson, Palmdale School District, Palmdale
Freda Kelly, Truman Middle School, Fontana
Carol Storey, Yolo County School District, Woodland
Leanne Westphal, Central Valley Intermediate School, Shasta
Lake
Scott Westphal, Foothill High School, Redding
OABITAR, (Objectivity, Accuracy, and Balance In
Teaching About Religion), is the non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that
supported the development and supports this web site. The coordinator of OABITAR is John
Massen, San Mateo, California.
Curriculum consultants for Different Drummers and developers of this website are Dr.
Paul Geisert and Dr. Mynga Futrell of Instructional Systems.
Dr. Gerald A. Larue, Emeritus Professor of Biblical
History and Archaeology at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles,
California, is the content expert for the Different Drummers
materials development project and website.
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The set of supplemental materials is most useful to
social studies teachers who are
teaching about religion. The principal aim of Different Drummers is to
enable
a middle
school or high school teacher to readily incorporate the concept of nonconformity
(to religion, or to a religious worldview) when addressing the realm of human
thought and belief. Now that many states are mandating teaching about
religion in social studies courses, more and more classroom teachers are
striving to produce academically objective units, lessons and
presentations for varied belief systems. The DD lessons are particularly suited to
such endeavors.
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How does DD help teachers out with religion and
nonreligion?
Religion is a realm in which there are many strongly held positions and deeply
felt emotions. Classroom teachers in public schools have a civic
responsibility to uphold religious neutrality in both curriculum and
conduct. They need to empathetically acknowledge the religious
diversity (including nonbelievers) within their classrooms, and also to fully
meet their academic obligations within the larger societal context. DD's
two "teacher background booklets" are of special help in addressing
these challenges with respect to religion and nonreligion.
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Different Drummers: Nonconforming Thinkers in History is useful in many domains
other than religion and nonreligion. Teachers can use the material to augment their social studies in
these emphasis areas, especially: critical thinking skills; civic education and civic values
instruction; plurality/diversity/multicultural education; intellectual
freedom; historical literacy [world/U.S.], and ethical/sociopolitical
literacy. To consider the module's application within these areas, be sure
check out the "More about DD" section.
