As educators, it is our responsibility to provide students with an understanding of prominent figures who have made significant contributions to society. Teaching about young Kamala Harris, the 49th Vice President of the United States, can inspire and encourage our students to pursue their ambitions and aspire to make a difference in the world.
Early Life and Education
Born in California on October 20, 1964, Kamala Harris was raised in a multicultural household with her Indian-American mother Shyamala Gopalan, and Jamaican-American father Donald Harris. This unique background shaped her worldview early on, as did her parents’ dedication to civil rights and social justice.
To teach our students about young Kamala Harris, we must first explore her educational journey. She attended Thousand Oaks Elementary School in Berkeley before spending some of her teenage years in Montreal, Canada. After migrating back to the United States, she completed high school and went on to attend Howard University, an HBCU in Washington D.C., where she majored in Political Science and Economics. Later, she earned her Juris Doctor (JD) degree from UC Hastings College of Law.
Inspiration for Students
One key takeaway for our students is the importance of perseverance and determination. In every step of her academic and professional career, Kamala Harris encountered challenges that tested her strength and character. Through these trials, she discovered a strength that allowed her not only to endure but also to excel beyond expectations.
Her focus on social justice issues also teaches valuable lessons about empathy and understanding for others. By incorporating lessons about young Kamala Harris into our classrooms, we can help students develop stronger relationships with their peers while cultivating a sense of civic responsibility.
Discussion Topics for the Classroom
1. The Multicultural Influence: Educators may wish to start a discussion comparing similarities and differences among different cultures by exploring Kamala Harris’s biracial background.
2. Women in Leadership: Engaging students in a conversation about gender roles and the significance of having the first, female Vice President of the United States offers a platform for examining other powerful women in history.
3. Perseverance and Overcoming Barriers: Present Kamala Harris’s accomplishments as a framework for discussing setbacks, self-confidence, and resilience.
4. Importance of Education: Use her educational journey as a springboard to discuss the diverse paths students can follow in their own lives and how education empowers individuals to achieve their goals.
Teaching students about young Kamala Harris provides a unique opportunity to spark essential conversations about diversity, empowerment, and social justice while inspiring future leaders. Integrating this biographical study into our curriculum will not only enrich our student’s understanding of history but also encourage them to envision their potential impact on the world.
