Mr. Mahoney Connects Ancient Civilizations and Racial Justice

Grant Recipient Mr. Mahoney teaches Social Studies at the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School

With nuanced conversations about racial inequality happening across the country, it’s so important for educators to continually develop resources to cover the sensitive topic in their classrooms. A grant from the Melrose Education Foundation supported Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Social Studies teacher Robert Mahoney to do just that.

Participating in a professional development course focused on the American Civil Rights Movement, Mr. Mahoney explored the murder of George Floyd, Black Lives Matter protests, and the book “The Color of Law” with a group of educators from across the country. Together, they deepened their knowledge and developed their understanding of ways to engage students in more meaningful racial justice conversations.

“In high school I did not get the best education about social justice and race. I felt like it was my responsibility to become knowledgeable myself,” says Mahoney, who has been a social studies teacher in Melrose for the past 10 years. Mahoney notes that he hopes his experience will give students “a strong objective background so they can make their own decisions and have conversations.” He has also used knowledge and perspective gained to further his own education and to engage in discussions about social justice with his colleagues.

The self-paced online course, funded by a professional development grant from the Melrose Education Foundation, included a combination of readings, videos, and discussion posts. Mahoney is using this coursework in his classroom, focusing on parallels parallels between Nubia in Ancient Egypt, India’s caste system and racial inequality in the United States: “I think everyone, community members, teachers, students, has a responsibility to know different aspects of our country's history. As teachers, we’re always trying to make connections to what’s going on in our lives today.”