The Prairie Landscape

True Learning, True Teaching Seminars Archive

The Illinois Humanities Council believes that teachers and librarians perform vital roles in the state of Illinois. They have a lasting and positive impact on the lives of many students and improve the quality of life in the state.

Unfortunately, good educators rarely are recognized for their efforts. In 1997, the IHC launched a pioneering program, True Learning, True Teaching, to reward these educators by offering free, weeklong, renewal seminars each summer at Starved Rock Lodge State Park. In the decade that followed, the IHC expanded this program to several sites, including Pere Marquette State Park and Giant City State Park. The IHC also began to offer a number of weekend and one-day seminars for educators, including librarians, throughout the year. An international exchange program with Germany was established in 2000.

After ten years of successful seminars, the IHC will trim its seminar offerings for 2007, and explore new avenues for reaching teachers. The IHC willwork with the Golden Apple Foundation (GAF) on its inaugural series of summer seminars in 2007. Golden Apple will offer four seminars, and like the IHC seminars, these offer teachers an opportunity for intellectual renewal and are open to K-12 teachers in Illinois. The seminars are free. The GAF pays for food, lodging, and seminar materials. The IHC encourages teachers to apply to these seminars.

Please visit the "Events/Activities" link on the right for information on specific seminar dates, topics, and locations.

For more opportunities for K-12 educators, please visit the Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA) website.