Corbin High School History Students experienced what it was like living in old Corbin in 1897.The students participated in a simulation to see what it was like living in the Reconstruction Era. Corbin High School History Teacher Sarah Watkins researched occupations, wages, and tasks that were typical of people from the time period.
“Each student was given a new identity to that of someone living in the town of Old Corbin in 1897,” Watkins said. “Their occupations ranged from wealthy sawmill owners and railroad workers to milliners and scullery maids.”
Half of the students were white citizens and the other half were African American to show the inequality of the time period. The students were then given four tasks to complete in Old Corbin, getting the doctor to make a house visit for a sick sister, buying sundries at the local dry goods, voting at the General Store, and mailing a telegram.
“As the students completed their tasks they quickly realized that the tasks were unfair to women and African American citizens,” Watkins said. “The activity reinforced the content while also letting the students experience some of the problems others might have faced.”
The students faced common problems of the time period including pay inequality and voting restrictions such as the grandfather clause, literacy test, and poll taxes. The white male citizens were able to complete most tasks but the African American citizens and women were rarely able.
Following the activity, the students completed a reflection and participated in a debriefing. During the debriefing students discussed how it felt to be treated unfairly and related the simulation to the world today.
“The students were able to make some great connections between the simulation and their own world today. I was very pleased at how they responded and really identified with the problems they were faced with,” Watkins said. “This is one of our lowest tested areas, so I started out wanting to raise a test score but now I feel like I just want them to be better citizens and to be more open about looking at others’ situations.”