Teach-in facts for kids
A teach-in is like a big meeting or a special class where people learn about important topics. These topics are often about current events or politics. Unlike a regular class, a teach-in doesn't have a strict time limit. It also doesn't stick to a very narrow school subject.
Teach-ins are designed to be hands-on and involve everyone. They aim to inspire people to take action. Experts might give talks, but people in the audience can ask questions and share their thoughts, even during the talks.
The idea of "teach-ins" became very popular during the Vietnam War, when the U.S. government was involved. The very first teach-in happened overnight at the University of Michigan in March 1965. It started with talks about the Vietnam War draft (when people are chosen for the military). It ended early the next morning with a speech by a thinker named Arnold Kaufman.
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The First Teach-In Event
The idea for the teach-in came from a professor named Marshall Sahlins. He was an anthropologist at the University of Michigan. This happened during a meeting on March 17, 1965.
Before this, about 50 professors had planned a one-day teaching strike. They wanted to protest the Vietnam War. But some of these professors, including William A. Gamson and Arnold Kaufman, thought about other ways to protest. They faced strong opposition to a strike from the government and the university president.
A newspaper, the New York Times Magazine, explained how Professor Sahlins got the idea. He said, "They say we're neglecting our responsibilities as teachers. Let's show them how responsible we feel. Instead of teaching out, we'll teach in—all night."
The name teach-in was a new version of another protest method called a sit-in. Other similar protest names later included the die-in and the bed-in.
This first teach-in was put together by professors and a group called Students for a Democratic Society. It took place at the University of Michigan on March 24–25, 1965. The governor of Michigan, George Romney, and other politicians were against the event.
About 3,500 people attended the teach-in. It included debates, talks, movies, and music. All these activities aimed to protest the war. Professors like Anatol Rapoport and Charles Tilly were also involved.
The event faced challenges. There were bomb threats that made everyone leave the hall three times. Participants went outside into the cold but kept their activities going. Other students, from a group called Young Republicans, protested the teach-in. They said it was "anti-American." The teach-in ended the next morning with a rally of 600 people outside the library.
More Antiwar Teach-Ins
The Michigan teach-in was reported in newspapers across the country. This included an article in the New York Times on March 25, 1965. It inspired 35 more teach-ins at colleges within just one week. By the end of that year, there had been teach-ins at 120 different campuses.
Antiwar teach-ins continued until the Vietnam War ended. Some of these included events at:
- Columbia University, March 26, 1965
- University of Wisconsin, April 1, 1965
- Rutgers University, April 23, 1965
- Boston University, May 5, 1965
- National Teach-In (televised), Washington DC, May 15, 1965
- U.C. Berkeley, May 21–22, 1965
- Kent State University, spring 1965
- Harvard University, spring 1965
- UCLA, March 25, 1966
- New York University, March 30, 1971
Not all college students supported the antiwar protests. At many teach-ins, students who supported the war showed up to protest. Some also signed letters to support their college leaders. This happened at Kent State University, the University of Wisconsin, and Yale University.
The Big Teach-In at U.C. Berkeley
The largest Vietnam teach-in took place on May 21–22, 1965, at U.C. Berkeley. A new group called the Vietnam Day Committee (VDC) organized it. This group was started by former student Jerry Rubin and Professor Stephen Smale.
The event was held on a large playing field. Over 36 hours, about 30,000 people attended. The VDC invited the U.S. government's State Department to send a representative. But they said no. Two UC Berkeley professors who had agreed to speak for the government's actions also pulled out at the last minute. An empty chair was left on the stage with a sign that read "Reserved for the State Department."
Many famous people took part in the event. These included Dr. Benjamin Spock, a well-known pediatrician. Also present were socialist leader Norman Thomas and writer Norman Mailer. Other speakers included journalists, activists, and professors. Folk singer Phil Ochs performed music. The event was recorded and broadcast live by a local radio station.
How Teach-Ins Were Watched
Because teach-ins were part of the antiwar movement, the FBI and the government watched them closely. They thought teach-ins might be dangerous to national interests.
At one teach-in, 13 undercover agents attended. They wrote down the names of students, professors, speakers, and activists. This information was then given to the FBI.
A government report in October 1965 looked at the teach-in movement. It said that most teach-ins were not fair debates or true education. It claimed they were more like training sessions, protests, and variety shows. The report also suggested that teach-ins were linked to Communist activities.
The Impact of Antiwar Teach-Ins
Teach-ins were an important part of the New Left movement. Students, professors, and activists who were involved in teach-ins went on to organize other antiwar protests. This included a huge rally of 20,000 people in Washington D.C. in April 1965.
The teach-ins helped people across the country understand the war better. They showed that many experts disagreed with the government's policy. This helped create new sources of information and understanding about the war.
Teach-ins have continued over the years since 1965. They are used to discuss other important national issues, such as climate change.
Modern Teach-Ins
In the 1990s, activists started new teach-ins. These focused on how businesses were influencing education and power. They were called the 'National Teach-Ins on Corporations, Education, and Democracy' in 1996. Later, they became the 'Democracy Teach-Ins' (DTIs) in 1998, 1999, 2001, and 2002.
Important thinkers and activists like Cornel West, Naomi Klein, and Vandana Shiva spoke at these Democracy Teach-Ins. They were held on hundreds of college campuses at the same time. The goal was to build groups of activists who cared about democracy. The 1999 Democracy Teach-Ins helped get students ready for the 1999 Seattle WTO protests.
More recently, environmental educators have used the teach-in model. For example, the ‘2010 Imperative: A Global Emergency Teach-in’ happened in 2007. It focused on climate change and was available online.
Another event, ‘Focus the Nation’, used the teach-in model in 2008. It also aimed to raise awareness about climate change. A 'National Teach-in' in 2009 also discussed global climate change.
In 2011, the Occupy Wall Street movement used teach-ins. They wanted to teach people about problems with capitalism.
In 2015 and 2016, Black Lives Matter teach-ins were held across the United States. These took place in places like Ithaca, New York and the Pratt Institute.
In 2017 and 2018, the University of Michigan offered free online "Teach-Outs." These covered topics like free speech, fake news, and hurricanes. Some were hosted on Coursera.
In 2018, the University of Michigan and the University of Notre Dame worked together. They offered teach-ins and an online "Teach-Out" about Puerto Rico's recovery after a hurricane.
Also in 2018, Stanford University held a teach-in about gun violence in schools. Students and professors at Edinburgh University held teach-ins on various issues. This was during a strike to support their union.
In 2020, students and professors at Haverford College held teach-ins on racial justice. This was part of a strike against the college.
