Punishment: The American Story

FAIN: ES-281176-21

Amherst College (Amherst, MA 01002-2372)
Austin D. Sarat (Project Director: March 2021 to May 2024)

A three-week, residential institute for middle and high school teachers on the meanings, purposes, and history of punishment in the United States. 

I am proposing a three-week, in-person, Level II Summer Institute for School Teachers that will examine punishment and its meanings in American society. It will host 25 participants and be particularly relevant to middle school (grades 6-8) and high school educators (grades 9-12). Punishment is an essential object of humanistic inquiry in schools throughout the United States and in history, civics, social studies, and literature courses at the middle and high school level. Teachers regularly use materials about punishment and its purposes. This Institute will address three questions: 1. What is punishment and why do we punish as we do? 2. What can we learn about politics, law, and culture in the United States from an examination of our practices of punishment? 3. What are the limits of punishment? Together with the Visiting Faculty, we will take a fresh look at familiar texts and explore new resources on which participants might draw when they teach about punishment.

Associated Products

Punishment (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: Punishment
Author: All participants
Abstract: curricular development projects
Year: 2022
Audience: K - 12

Presentation (Conference Paper/Presentation)
Title: Presentation
Author: Nathan Salome
Abstract: I've attached a plethora of items to show you! I've included the working versions of class worksheets and slide presentations I plan to use in May. Additionally you should be able to see pictures of the posters I presented with in Salt Lake City and the setup. The poster session was a success. I spoke with a number of individuals well over the time allotted who had questions about the program and content. There was a group who indicated they will apply if it is offered again. Many of the participants in the conference knew you! Some through past interactions while at least one or two mentioned learning from you at Amherst.
Date: 04/20/2023
Conference Name: History Teacher Conference

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