Emmaus High School introduces new AP course on African diaspora for fall 2025 enrollment

The East Penn School District Board meeting on October 14, 2024, highlighted an exciting new addition to the curriculum at Emmaus High School: an Advanced Placement (AP) course focused on the African diaspora. Set to launch in the fall of 2025, this one-credit elective aims to enrich students' understanding of history through an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates art, literature, and music.

Dr. Moxley and Mr. Pump, who attended an AP Summer Institute for training, presented the course's structure, which spans four units covering significant historical periods from 900 BCE to the early 2000s. The course will not only delve into the origins of the African diaspora but also explore themes of freedom, resistance, and cultural movements. A key feature of the curriculum is a year-long research project that allows students to choose topics of personal interest, fostering skills in research, collaboration, and presentation.

The course is designed to enhance students' analytical abilities through the examination of primary sources, including materials from the Smithsonian Institute. This partnership promises to provide students with valuable resources that will enrich their learning experience.

Board members expressed enthusiasm for the course, noting that it addresses a long-standing request from students for more diverse offerings in the social studies department. The initiative aligns with the district's goal of increasing student belonging and engagement, ensuring that all students see themselves represented in their education.

In addition to the curriculum discussion, board members raised the possibility of organizing a field trip to the National Museum of African American History, emphasizing the importance of experiential learning in conjunction with the new course.

As the East Penn School District moves forward with this innovative program, it reflects a commitment to providing rigorous and relevant educational opportunities that resonate with the diverse experiences of its student body. The board's support for the course signals a positive step toward enriching the academic landscape for future generations.