NEH Summer Institute for School Teachers: Winston Churchill and the Anglo-American Relationship

Funder: National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), administered by The Churchill Centre

Program Duration: 3 weeks (July 11-31, 2010 for the 2010 program)

Geographic Scope: United States and its territorial possessions; Americans teaching in foreign schools where at least 50% of students are American nationals

This is a substantive humanities study opportunity designed for school teachers to study Winston Churchill's life, leadership, and Anglo-American relationships. Participants spend two weeks at The Churchill Archives Centre at Churchill College, Cambridge, and one week in London. The program includes extensive reading, research using primary documents, seminars with Churchill scholars, and visits to important Churchill sites.

Focus Areas

• Winston Churchill and the Anglo-American Relationship
• Churchill's autobiography My Early Life
• Churchill's understanding of history, views on empire, and thoughts on rhetoric in democratic statesmanship
• Churchill's writings on America and The Great Republic
• Battle against appeasement in the 1930s
• "Iron Curtain" speech
• Churchill's determination and personal achievement

Eligibility

• Full-time K-12 teachers (including home-schooling parents) are primary eligible applicants
• Other K-12 school personnel (librarians, administrators) eligible but must demonstrate value in application essay
• Not eligible: Substitute teachers, part-time personnel
• Up to two seminar spaces and three institute spaces available for current full-time graduate students intending to pursue K-12 teaching careers
• Must be United States citizen or resident of U.S. jurisdictions
• Foreign nationals must have resided in U.S. or territories for at least 3 years immediately preceding deadline
• Applicants from public, private, and religiously affiliated schools receive equal consideration
• First priority given to teachers who have not attended an NEH institute in the last 3 years (2007, 2008, 2009)
• Cannot apply to study with current colleagues or family members
• Cannot apply to seminars of scholars with whom applicant has previously studied
• May apply to up to 3 NEH projects in one year but may participate in only one

Program Requirements & Expectations

• Attendance at all scheduled sessions and site visits (mandatory)
• Completion of reading requirements and participation in discussions
• Three-minute oral valediction to My Early Life
• Completion of a research project using primary documents from Churchill Archives Centre
• 10-minute oral report at end of Cambridge section summarizing research
• Written lesson plan for bringing Churchill into classroom OR research paper
• Full-time residential participation; no other professional activities allowed during tenure
• Online evaluations at end of project

Site Visits

Include transportation by bus, underground or train; extensive walking tours at: Bletchley Park, Blenheim Palace, Churchill gravesite at Bladon, Harrow School, Chartwell, Churchill Museum at Cabinet War Rooms, Parliament

Stipend Conditions

• Stipends are taxable
• Intended to help cover travel, books, research expenses, and living expenses
• No supplements given if stipend insufficient for all expenses
• Participants not completing full tenure must refund pro-rata portion

Selection Criteria

Committee evaluates applications based on:

1. Effectiveness and commitment as teacher/educator
2. Intellectual interests generally and as related to project
3. Special perspectives, skills, or experiences contributing to seminar
4. Commitment to participate fully in formal and informal collegial life
5. Likelihood that experience will enhance teaching

When choices equal among candidates, preference given to those who have not previously participated in NEH seminars/institutes/workshops or who significantly contribute to diversity.

Contact Information

Director: Professor James W. Muller, Chairman of The Churchill Centre's Board of Academic Advisers

Project Administrator: Daniel N. Myers
Email: dmyers@winstonchurchill.org

Program Website: http://www.winstonchurchill.org/support/for-educators/neh-teachers-institute

Equal Opportunity

NEH programs do not discriminate on basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age.

Application Process

Submission Methods: Hard copy via US postal system or private delivery (FedEx, UPS) OR electronically via email

Deadline: March 2, 2010 (postmarked for hard copy; received for email)

Notification: March 25, 2010 (early notification for overseas programs); applicants have until April 5 to accept or decline

Checklist of Application Materials

For Hard-Copy Submission:

1. Three copies of NEH Cover Sheet (filled out online, printed)
2. Three copies of resume
3. Three copies of application essay
4. Two letters of recommendation (emailed directly by referees)

For Online Submission:

1. NEH Cover Sheet (print, scan or PDF for email)
2. Resume
3. Application essay
4. Two letters of recommendation (emailed directly by referees)

Online applications (#1-3) should be sent as attachments to single email to: dmyers@winstonchurchill.org

NEH Application Cover Sheet

• Fill out online at: http://www.neh.gov/online/education/participants/
• Recommend email address not encumbered by institutional firewalls
• Print three copies (hard copy) or single copy (online)
• Click "submit" button when finished

Resume

• Maximum 2 pages
• Include: education, teaching experiences, academic interests, honors and awards

Application Essay

Maximum length: 1,250 words or 5 double-spaced pages

Required content - address all of the following:

• Reasons for applying to this institute
• Interest (intellectual and personal) in Winston Churchill and broader implications of his career and relationship with the United States
• Qualifications to do work of institute and contribute to it
• What you hope to accomplish through participation, including any individual research and writing projects
• Relation of study to your teaching
• Any personal and academic information relevant to application

Letters of Reference

• Two letters required
• Referees should be familiar with professional accomplishments, interests, and ability to contribute to community of intellectual inquiry
• Letters from colleagues who know teaching and those outside institution who know habits of mind often more useful than letters from administrators
• If possible, referees should be familiar with NEH programs
• Current graduate students should secure letter from professor or advisor
• Helpful if referees read project description from director and application essay
• If applicant previously participated in NEH summer seminar/institute, recommendation from director/lead scholar useful
• Referees must email recommendations directly to: Daniel N. Myers at dmyers@winstonchurchill.org

Submission Instructions

Hard Copy:
Postmark no later than March 2, 2010

Mail to:
Mr. Daniel N. Myers
The Churchill Centre
P.O. Box 945
Downers Grove, IL 60515-0945
(630) 512-9341

Electronic:
Email to: dmyers@winstonchurchill.org by March 2, 2010

Important: All application materials must be sent to project director. Materials sent to NEH will not be reviewed.