Talking About a Revolution

Champion of the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, Maximilien Robespierre famously declared, “The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is keeping them ignorant.” Although Robespierre ultimately met the guillotine, his belief in the transformative power of education resonates with Jeff Glikman. Jeff knows that access to education alone doesn't guarantee success, but it does create opportunity—the same kind of opportunity Fund for Teachers gave him this summer to explore the history and legacy of the French Revolution firsthand.

Today we're joined by FFT Fellow Jeff Glikman, a teacher at Traverse City High School in Traverse City, MI. We caught up with Jeff shortly after he returned from his fellowship, which took him to France, Belgium, and Spain to experience the art, landmarks, and historical sites connected to the French Revolution. Now, he's beginning to develop an inquiry-based curriculum designed to strengthen high school students' critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, and understanding of the Revolution's enduring legacy—particularly for learners with diverse needs.

But before we talk about what's next, Jeff shared stories from his travels that bring to life the historical and cultural forces behind the French Revolution's rallying cry of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité—and how those ideals continue to shape the questions his students explore today.

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Music on podcast: Scott Harris: Clear Progress