by George J Elbaum

The Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (also known as CRLS) is a public high school with enrollment of 1950 students of high diversity (39% White, 32% Black, 13% Hispanic, 11% Asian, 4% two or more races).  The school’s current form was established in 1977 when two separate schools, the Rindge Technical School and Cambridge High and Latin School, were merged to form the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, but its roots and interesting history date back to 1648!  CRLS is currently divided into 4 ‘Learning Communities’ which are called C, R, L, and S (poetic creativity 🙂 and are designed to promote high levels of learning and achievement for all students.  Each Learning Community has from 400 to 450 students, and each student is assigned to a guidance counselor for all four years.

My presentation to approximately 120 9^th grade students enrolled in World History and English Language Arts (ELA) was held in the auditorium of the nearby Cambridge Public Library.  The students have been studying WWII and the Holocaust in their World History classes and read stories of resilience and resistance in their ELA classes.  Many students have seen the film Schindler’s List and use materials, readings, videos, etc. from Facing History and Ourselves.  The presentation was organized by World History teacher Caroline Berz and arranged by Judi Bohn of Facing History and Ourselves.