UK Workshop Focused on Teaching About Korea and Korean War

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 5, 2018) — More than 100 students studying to become teachers attended the University of Kentucky College of Education "Forgotten No More" workshop. UK faculty put the workshop together with the Kentucky War Legacy Project and the Kentucky Council for the Social Studies. Future teachers at the conference learned about the Korean War and methods for teaching about Korea. Students were from the University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, the University of Louisville and Morehead State University.

The "Forgotten No More" workshop featured a series of speakers, including the president of the Korean War Legacy Foundation, and breakout sessions on the Korean War and methods of teaching history. The workshop was a way for the future educators to view history in various contexts and develop meaningful ways of delivering lessons to students.

The conference ended with Lester Beaty, the nephew of Private Joe Stanton Elmore,  who was humbled to speak to students in honor of his uncle. Elmore was a Kentucky solider who was missing in action for 68 years. His remains were found earlier this year in Korea and brought to Clinton County, where he was laid to rest.

When asked about how he felt about the conference, Beaty said, "I think this is fantastic. When I went to school Korea was never mentioned. This conference honors the veterans. Anything to do with Korea honors the veterans."

The day also meant a great deal to UK College of Education professor Kathy Swan, the workshop organizer. Her father was a Korean War veteran, and her teaching career started at Seoul Foreign School where she regularly took students to the demilitarized zone in Korea. The "Forgotten No More" workshop honored her father and brought Korea back into her life. "Often we study history as these events that sit above humans," Swan told the students. “History is made of people's experiences, contributions and efforts. The individuals in history make the collective."

Zackery Short, a master’s degree student in the UK College of Education, said history is often viewed from a distance.   

“This workshop gave us tools that enable us to look at the war from a boots on the ground perspective and will be very helpful to me as a future social studies teacher,” said Short, who is in the United States Army Reserves. "For those who have never been to war or served, these interviews with veterans are as close as they will get to the real history. As someone who is still serving, there is not a better way to honor those who have served before me and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Even though I can see it as a valuable teaching resource, I think it is a way to remember and appreciate all those involved."

To learn more about degrees or events in the UK College of Education visit education.uky.edu.