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On Wednesday, Nov. 20, the Caroline Lawson Ivey Memorial Foundation and Troy University announced the establishment of the Ivey Center for a Cultural Approach at the school.

The Ivey Center is named in honor of Dr. Oliver Turner Ivey, a longtime professor at Auburn University who created the “cultural approach” to teaching history. The Ivey Foundation, which will fund the Ivey Center, was named in honor of Professor Ivey’s wife Caroline Lawson.

“The ‘cultural approach’ seeks to transform the study of history from rote memorization into a holistic exploration of cultural institutions designed to enhance students’ understanding of key historical concepts and to develop critical thinking skills,” Troy University Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs Dr. Kerry Palmer said. “The Ivey Center will serve as the resource center to promote the use of the ‘cultural approach’ to teaching history by teachers of K-12 social studies, social science and related academic disciplines.”

Professor Ivey developed his “cultural approach’ to teaching history in the early 1950s, which taught history through categories of social, religious, economic, political, intellectual and aesthetic.

Dr. Linda Felton-Smith is a Troy University graduate and a former Troy City Schools Superintendent. She also served as Director of the Alabama Office of Learning Support for the Alabama State Department of Education. She will serve as the Director of the Ivey Center.

“Professor Ivey knew that these six categories overlapped and intersected with each other,” Felton-Smith said. “The ‘cultural approach’ was easier for students to understand. They were fascinated and they wanted to learn more about their past. As he introduced the ‘cultural approach,’ there was an improvement in the organization of social studies content, teaching and learning.”

Professor Ivey embarked on a project in the Montgomery County School System in the 1970s to implement the “cultural approach” to teaching history, which resulted in national recognition.

“The project showed improvement in students’ academic performance and their interest in history,” Felton-Smith said.

Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr. emphasized that improving the way students are taught history is imperative going forward.

“It was (Thomas) Jefferson that reminded us that education is the key and educating the masses is the key to preserving this delicate thing called Democracy,” he said. “Recent tests indicate that about 70 percent of Americans would fail a basic civics quiz. Think about that, when we become ignorant of our past – and how blessed we are – we stand on the threshold of losing that very blessing (democracy). That’s what I see the Ivey Center is about.”

Professor Ivey was the uncle of current Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, who also spent more than a decade as a teacher herself.

“Personally, I am deeply proud of the work of my late uncle, Oliver Turner Ivey, for pioneering the ‘Cultural Approach to Teaching History” that we celebrate today,” Gov. Ivey said. “During his long teaching career at Auburn University – including the time I was a student on campus – Uncle Oliver was a revered and respected professor. You had to be a serious student to pass his course.

“His wisdom did have a personal impact (on me). After I received my education degree, I employed some of his engaging methods of instruction to stimulate my high school civics classes. It worked. Even early in my banking career, I borrowed his holistic teaching approach to develop a financial literacy outreach program for students in Alabama that was adopted in other states.”

Due to Troy’s history as a teaching school, Ivey said it was fitting that the Ivey Center would be launched at the university.

“As we all know, Troy got its start as a teacher’s college,” she continued. “For well over a century, Troy has positively affected the lives of 10s of thousands of student teachers and their students around our state, nation and globe. It could not be more fitting that Troy would take the lead in transforming teaching, so their students think as partners in the progression of human history – experiencing its impact in shaping their lives and our society at large.”

The Ivey Center will focus on giving teachers around the state the tools to teach the “cultural approach” that Professor Ivey popularized.

“The focus of the Ivey Center is to make professional learning opportunities meaningful and available so that teachers will be able to enhance their instruction related to social studies, history and related disciplines in K-12 schools,” Felton-Smith said. “Students will benefit as they gain a greater appreciation for studying and learning about history. Research has shown that many students do not view – or value – history as an important and engaging subject that we need to know about; that is what we want to change through the partnership of the Ivey Foundation and Troy University.

“The bottom line is the Ivey Center wants to help K-12 teachers inspire students to have a greater appreciation for studying, learning and knowing our historical past for successful participation in our society.”