BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

LONG BRANCH –– February is dedicated to celebrating black history in our nation, but Long Branch educators say their students learn about black history throughout the year.

“Black history is taught throughout the year,” Assistant Superintendent of Schools George L. Catrambone said in an interview last week. “It is infused in the curriculum through activities that speak of the contributions of the culture.”

The city’s school district is made up of nine schools with approximately 5,000 students. One-third of the students are Hispanic, one-third, Caucasian and one-third, African American.

“Educating all students makes them conscious and aware of various cultures, so youngsters aren’t isolated and instead have a holistic approach to society, values and culture,” Catrambone said.

The school system celebrates a different theme each month to keep its students aware, according to Catrambone, who said each school played its own part this month in educating and enlightening students on the history of the African American culture in this country.

Last month, Eastern cultures were celebrated and in March the theme will be Women in History, Catrambone said.

At the Joseph M. Ferraina Early Childhood Learning Center Preschool on Avenel Boulevard, books about famous African Americans were read to the students, according to Catrambone, who said a multicultural play was presented by the students to their peers and parents.

Students also learned to sing songs in various languages, such as Swahili.

At the Elberon School on Park Avenue, the Gregory School on North Seventh Avenue and the Lenna W. Conrow School on Long Branch Avenue, grades K-two, facts about African American history were presented each morning to the students, Catrambone said.

Students also posed as famous African Americans at assemblies and books, biographies and short stories were read to the students to spark class discussion.

Students also created their own posters and listened to music by well-known African American musicians.

The A.A. Anastasia School on Morris Avenue, the Garfield School on Garfield Avenue and the West End School on West End Avenue, grades 3 through 5, took part in assembly programs focusing on the life of comedian Bill Cosby, according to Catrambone.

In art education classes, students learned kente weaving, which is an African craft, and made adinkra cloth to share aspects of the African culture, he said.

Students wrote research reports about famous African Americans, studied song writers of the culture, participated in essay contests and read books and biographies on African Americans.

PowerPoint presentations were also developed by the students on African American history and presented to their peers. “The students learn a lot,” Catrambone said. “They get very excited and are engaged. The teachers make that happen.”

At the Middle School on Indiana Avenue, students in grades six-eight engaged in addressing the issue of slavery in America and how it denied people basic human rights in their social studies classes.

Students also participated in critical thinking exercises on the involvement of young students in social change and they heard the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech.

Students at the high school on Westwood Avenue, grades nine-12, listened to biographies of black historians during the morning announcements and a section in the library displayed books written by black authors.

In history and English classes, students prepared research papers and other projects on African American history and an assembly was scheduled with guest speaker Dr. Langorth Gunther.

Gunther has Jamaican roots and is currently a professor of history at Essex County College and the author of articles and books on African American life.

“The exposure [of cultures] is most important,” Catrambone said. “We try to get children involved so they not only memorize facts, but they get to discuss them critically. That is the prime focus in the district.

“Working with a theme, such as African American history, helps build character and allows each student to interact with each other and respect each other’s cultures.”