Educators's Book Discussion Group on the Immigrant Experience in New England

The Historical Society of Cheshire County is offering an opportunity for area educators to participate in a book discussion group that explores the experience of immigrants in New England from the 1870's to World War I. The program is funded with a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities Council and will be offered over 4 evenings in March and April. The theme of the discussion group is also that of the spring exhibit at the Historical Society entitled Coming to Cheshire County: The Immigrant Experience, 1860-1920, which will open at the Society later in the spring.

The goals of the book group are to encourage in-depth discussion on this theme so that teachers can share this knowledge with their students and to expose educators to the primary resources at the Historical Society of Cheshire County and the ways in which they can be used in the classroom. Participants will discuss a variety of books, including The Belles of New England: The Women of Textile Mills and the Families Whose Wealth They Wove by William Moran, 2002, and Coming to American: A History of Immigration and Ethnicity in American Life by Roger Daniels, 2002, along with books for middle and elementary school age students. Eight (8) professional development credits will be awarded to teachers who attend all four sessions. Each session will be facilitated with accompanying handouts and timelines, primary material, and refreshments.

The discussions will be held from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. on the following Wednesday evenings: March 11, March 25, April 15, and April 29. The cost for participating is $25.00, which includes books. Registration is required and is limited to 15 educators.

For additional information or to register, please contact Tom Haynes, Director of Education at the Historical Society of Cheshire County at 352-1895 or dired@hsccnh.org or view the information posted on the Society's website at www.hsccnh.org/education/bookgroup.cfm.