Teach Truth About American Exceptionalism – A DCAESJ Working Group Exploration
By Lamoussa Tapsoba
Working Groups members at our December Convening
On December 13th, the DCAESJ working groups came together at the Teaching for Change office for our final convening of the 2025 calendar year. The theme for the session, American Exceptionalism was aligned with our preparations for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2026. During our time together, educators answered key questions: Who does American Exceptionalism benefit? Who does it exclude? How can you teach about this topic in the classroom?
Working Group teacher facilitators introduced a list of resources and articles on American Exceptionalism and prepared an activity educators could use in their classrooms.
Working Group Facilitators updating members on their poster session at the National Conference of Social Studies
The session began with educators catching up and enjoying snacks and a cocoa bar. After updates from the DCAESJ working group, members participated in a viewpoints circle activity that challenged them to identify and embody specific perspectives on how different people might view American Exceptionalism. The goal was to consider how to teach students to have conversations with people holding different viewpoints, a skill often evolved in speech and debate classes.
Circle of Viewpoints activity, challenging participants to take on a differing perspective and ask a question.
Attendees discussed applying this exercise in classroom practice. Brainstorming debrief questions such as "How do you feel hearing these different perspectives?" and "In hearing these perspectives, has anything shifted for you?"
The session concluded with a reading of Langston Hughes' poem "Let America Be America Again." Participants split into small groups to consider what his perspective on American Exceptionalism might be and what questions he would ask. Groups then explored what conversations between Hughes and other historical figures might look like, developing starting points for lessons that teach students to build empathy and engage in dialogue with those they might otherwise disagree with.
Ending with closing reflections, educators shared their gratitude for the working group community and the convening, with one member commenting:
Langston Hughes “Let America Be America Again” is a poem that will inspire and sit with my students who are experiencing many traumas from state-sanctioned violence and ICE kidnappings of family members! While my students will have many different viewpoints of the poem and points that they relate to, they will also see how they are united in a common viewpoint that America owes a debt to be the nation it has promised to be!
The working groups are excited for a new year of advocacy, activism, and learning. If you are interested in joining a working group, consider applying! Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year.