Challenges & Opportunities of Teaching The 1960s

The 1960s are a decade often associated with student movements and the counterculture—young people trying to end the war and change society, and pressing the boundaries of accepted social behavior while they do it. But as we emphasize here, the impetus for change came from many directions and all generations. The belief that change was necessary and possible may have been advanced most aggressively and colorfully by young people, but politicians, community activists, clergymen, and teachers of all ages joined in trying end poverty, expand opportunity, and build a “great society.”

Therefore you might consider focusing this study of the 1960s by asking your students to assess their own decade.