TEACHER TRAINING

The Taft Institute Annual Seminar for Teachers

Since 1996, Professors Krasner and Zevin, with help from Professors Gerwin and Pierre-Louis, Jr., have led the Taft Institute’s Annual Seminar for Teachers.  This program, which focusses on teachers in the New York Metropolitan region, features:

  Face-to-face discussions with elected officials, campaign consultants, and other political professionals.

      Access to the latest political science research. 

      Cutting edge pedagogical techniques.

Alumni of these seminars include outstanding social studies teachers and assistant principals, as well as one person who gave up teaching to run for office himself and who became the chairperson of the Education Committee of the New York City Council (Danny Drum).

The Museum of the Moving Image and the Museum of the City of New York have been valued partners for these seminars providing rich resources and offering sites for later class visits. Recently, during covid, a virtual format has been used in collaboration with the United Federation of Teachers.  These seminars have focused on the growing threat to American democracy.

The 2022 Annual Seminar for Teachers will focus on the current crisis in American politics and the elections of 2022.  Check back again soon for details.

Teacher Training for Economic Education

The Institute has collaborated with the National Council on Economic Education to create a multi-year program of teacher-training in a curriculum that teaches high school students  both economic fundamentals and the basics of personal finance.  This program led by Professor Jack Zevin, Taft’s Co-Director, and Don McClean, the Institute’s Senior Teaching Associate, has trained  80  teachers since beginning in  2019.

If you're a teacher (or an education student) who would like to participate in the Annual Seminar or the program of Economic Education please send an mail to Ms. Krystle Holder at: Krystle.holder@qc.cuny.edu. The email should include the following information about you:

·   Teaching position (or school attended and year in school)

·   Courses taught

·   Contact information