Fund Use (250 characters maximum) – currently at 246

Provide a brief summary of how the funds requested in this application will be used if this application is selected for funding.

Funds will be used to design a unique education program that fosters critical thinking and problem solving skills for Ohio 4th graders. Funding will support equipment, materials and travel expenses required to provide this long-distance learning.

 

Unmet Need/Problem Statement (2,500 character maximum) – currently at 2376

Briefly define the problem or issue the program is designed to address. Why is it important? How does the problem/issue affect the target population? What is the organization's plan to address the problem/issue?

We know from working with our teacher partners that elementary students face a frightening variety of social stressors in classrooms, playgrounds and at home.  And while there are many successful intervention programs available, we are uniquely positioned to offer tools and develop skills that students will need when dealing with such issues as racism, bullying and substance abuse.

 

In the spring of 2017, Hayes Presidential Library & Museums staff began work on a new institutional strategic plan.  School teachers and museum staff met and planned new education programs.  The group discussed the evolving museum education theories about connecting past with present.  As staff was offhandedly talking about how President Hayes was praised by his contemporaries for his conflict resolution skills, a teacher shouted out “Now THAT’s the type of education program I need in my classroom! Not just a history lesson, but a lesson that demonstrates useful skills.” Other teachers chimed in giving examples how they frequently break up arguments. They felt bringing in our staff to use history to teach their kids how to get along, would be exciting.  “Imagine what our world would be like if our kids learned conflict resolution skills early on in life,” said one teacher.

 

As a result, this concept became a key part of the new strategic plan. With grant funding, we will create a program called, “Creating Presidential Problem Solvers: Applying Lessons from the Past to Issues of Today.”  Through creative and unique activities, students will use difficult situations and decisions made by President and Lucy Hayes, to foster students’ own critical thinking and problem solving skills.  

 

We recognize the needs of Ohio’s students who are economically disadvantaged. More than 50% of Ohio’s elementary students receive free or reduced cost lunches in their schools.  When surveyed why they believe our existing educational programs are worthy of benefactor’s support, teachers state the following reasons:  “Many students can’t afford to visit or are not given the opportunity,” “Many of our students have parents who would never take their kids to a museum,” “Many of our students would not be able to afford this trip, the support from sponsorships is wonderful.”  With a grant from Walmart we can offer this new educational program to students at very low cost to the schools.

 

Program Description (2,000 character maximum) Currently 1983

Provide a brief synopsis of what the proposed program will achieve.

 

“Creating Presidential Problem Solvers: Applying Lessons from the Past to Issues of Today” will inspire students to think! Students will have tools needed to look at their current world and consider how they can improve their communities through examples from the past. Trained staff will provide meaningful interaction with physical remnants of history to give students examples of understanding how the nation has addressed conflicts, the consequences of violent interaction and the benefits of peaceful compromise.

 

This program will be comprised of three different learning options: a traveling trunk that schools can borrow and explore on their own; in-person program delivered by an HPLM staff member; or an online program given by HPLM staff.

 

  • “Ruddy to Go”

Teachers’ schedules are busy and they look for meaningful lessons that meet content standards. Our Traveling Trunks option gives teachers a ready-made lesson plan allowing students to interact with reproduced artifacts and lessons about history and modern world using hands-on activities. Our trunks will include everything a teacher needs for an engaging classroom experience, including a handbook that details artifacts and instructions on how to relate these lessons to students’ lives.

  • “Ruddy on the Road”

Our staff travels directly to the school and provides the lesson. Staff will take artifacts and give students a direct connection to history. Using objects, like American Indian artifacts, will meet Ohio history standards while dealing with modern topics like racism and socioeconomic disparity.

  • “Ruddy on the Web”

Online lessons can be used to plug into their curriculum as it’s needed. We will provide teachers a live or prerecorded internet presentation specifically designed for Ohio’s 4th grade classrooms. If the travel between their school and the Hayes Museum is a barrier, the ease of calling up a lesson would work well with their planning.

 

*“Ruddy” is President “Rutherford” B. Hayes’ nickname.

 

Primary Target Population (2,000 character maximum) 1,628

 

Describe the target population for the proposed program.

By focusing on 4th graders we address many of the content standards that teachers are required to meet, including placing Ohio within the context of American history. Our collections and President Rutherford B. Hayes’ role in Ohio’s history provide students with a lesson that matches their curriculum standards. For example, as a criminal defense lawyer, Hayes was called on multiple times to defend slaves who crossed into Ohio and were prosecuted under the Fugitive Slave Law.  By relaying this problem to 4th graders, we show how in the past Americans dealt with sectional issues that divided the nation, which is outlined in Ohio’s 7th content standard for Social Studies. 

 

By showing how Hayes viewed his place in providing justice for those who needed help, we can also discuss how the nation consistently looked for answers to large problems, such as the Civil War, racial prejudice after slavery was outlawed, and growing economic disparity among Americans.  By following Hayes’ role as a lawyer, soldier, congressman, governor, and president we see how his life relates to Ohio’s 4th grade government content standards. By looking at the context of his decisions, some of which he is criticized for, and the multiple ways they have been interpreted, we can discuss problem solving in a way that aligns with the state’s content standards—especially standard 17 which focuses on engaging in compromise.

 

It is important that all Ohio students have the opportunity to experience this program during their school career.

 

Desired Results (2,000 character maximum) 1,992

Identify the major program goals and outcomes. What are the anticipated benefits for the target population and the impact the organization expects to achieve as a result of the proposed program?

 

Our goal is to provide a cultural experience to all students in the state, regardless of socioeconomic background, that immerses Ohio 4th graders in American history while providing lessons for their current world. Giving all students exposure to cultural events like this instills citizenship, and also provides students with experiences that are not feasible solely within the classroom setting. We will give students an opportunity to expand on their curriculum requirements within the classroom and inspire students to think about their world and their contribution to it. We want to bring all students into the American experience and embrace answers to problems associated with racism, bullying, drug abuse, and conflict.

 

For example, we want to create a Civil War Traveling Trunk that addresses both drug abuse and racism. By the 1830s, Americans were drinking three times as much alcohol than is consumed today. This caused problems in personal lives and families, which President Hayes observed and wrote about in his diaries. Women were leaders in the fight against alcohol abuse and the effect it had on their families. After the Civil War, many veterans became addicted to opioids because they received the medication on the battlefield and subsequently became addicted to the drug. By making connections to our time today and problems in the past, we can explore and initiate conversation about substance abuse, and how this is an on-going issue in the United States. 

 

Through honest conversation about these problems we hope to save many children from drug addiction, reduce hatred that leads to racism, and increase understanding and tolerance of others who are different. We intend to reach at least 3,000 students this first year with this multifaceted program. Surveys will be distributed to school educators to determine if we have met their curriculum standards and provided students with effective tools for life skills.

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Program Sustainability: 2000 Character Max – 1441

Briefly describe how the proposed program will be sustained and/or integrated into the organization's work if Walmart or its Foundation is unable to support the program.

 

We would appreciate partnering with Walmart in the pilot program of this new unique education program that fosters critical thinking and problem solving skills for 4th graders throughout Ohio. We have a successful track record in donor sustainability of our current on-site school programming. More than 95% of our funders renew their support annually because they see the positive and successful results obtained from teacher surveys and student acknowledgements. Our donors recognize we are committed to using the highest professional standards of leadership, integrity, and accountability. We ensure authenticity in all the materials we present.

 

Our current programs are limited to visits from schools/students in a 50-mile radius of the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums because that is the farthest they can travel in a given school day. Each year approximately 3,000 students are financially sponsored to have an on-site education experience. We want to touch an additional 3,000 students by taking “Creating Presidential Problem Solvers” to the schools that cannot physically travel to Fremont, OH. An investment from Walmart for this outreach program will touch so many more children.

 

Walmart’s funding is imperative for our organization to take this program on the road to Ohio schools this year. We hope you see “Creating Presidential Problem Solvers: Applying Lessons from the Past to Issues of Today” as a great fit with your mission and passion to create opportunities to better people’s lives.

 

 

Donor Recognition Plan: 2,000 Character Maximum – 1,872

Describe how (if selected to be funded) support from the Walmart Foundation, the program, and its progress and results will be communicated and with whom.

 

The Walmart Foundation’s Grant will be recognized for its support in multiple ways. Since this will be the first time the “Creating Presidential Problem Solvers: Applying Lessons from the Past to Issues of Today” program will reach 4th grade students state-wide, the foundation’s support will be recognized on all communications and marketing promotional pieces that bring awareness of this new education outreach initiative. As the nation’s first presidential library, it is our vision to continue to provide inventive, educational programming for all people including those underserved.  It is important to us that we communicate and market this outreach program on a national level for other museums and libraries to follow.

 

A new van will be purchased to take the program to out-lying schools in Ohio. It will be image wrapped promoting the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, the program and the support from the Walmart Foundation.

 

Other recognition will include direct contact with the schools, teachers, parents and students. Walmart’s logo will be listed on: all class handouts sent home to every parent regarding the program; on Hayes Presidential Library & Museums bookmarks given to every student participating in the “Creating Presidential Problem Solvers” program; and on all correspondence to teachers. 

 

Recognition of the Walmart Foundation’s Grant will be promoted on the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums’ Lobby TV that promotes programs, events and donors - the TV display runs continually and is regularly updated with new information; Facebook, Twitter & Instagram; quarterly newsletters mailed to more than 5,500 household and also online; Hayes Presidential Library & Museums website along with a hyperlink to the Walmart Foundation website; online calendars – Ohio History Connection and Toledo.com; and all press releases.