Nine county schools to host ‘Living Voices’

History will come alive for county youth this March 8, 9 and 10 with the arrival of a traveling actress of history.

Living Voices, a multi-media education program, will visit nine schools with a 50-minute presentation on several aspects of history. Grades five through eight will see the presentation.

Schools have their choice of four programs: Young People During the Holocaust, the Journey to America, Becoming American in the early 1900s and Fighting for Women’s Right to Vote.

Through a film and live acting, the students will learn about the topics.

The actress will dress up to match the actors in an educational film presented to the students, said Sheri Miller, youth services manager for the Colfax branch of the Whitman library.

“It’s a Seattle-based company that travels around the U.S. presenting the programs,” Miller said.

The grant for the visit was coordinated by Whitman County Library. The $4,000 Supporting Student Success grant was awarded by the Office of Secretary of State.

The funds will also pay for a package of non-fiction children’s books for the Colfax library and the Jennings Elementary library in Colfax.

The funds also paid for a conference for teachers in November on teaching social studies to students.

March 8, Oakesdale, Rosalia and Tekoa will each have a presentation. March 9, Steptoe, LaCrosse and Endicott will each have a presentation. March 10, Colfax, Colton and Garfield will each have a presentation.