As Protests Spread In Middle East, History Comes Alive For US Students

Rivaling the biggest crowds since their pro-democracy revolt began, flag-waving Egyptians packed into Tahrir Square for a day of prayer and celebration Friday to mark the fall of longtime leader Hosni Mubarak a week ago and to push their new military rulers to steer the country toward reform.

The success of Egypt’s uprising is inspiring protests to spread throughout the Middle East, as people demand an end to authoritarian regimes. Here in the U.S., students are getting a rare chance to watch history in the making.

We touch down in one school, Plymouth South High School in Plymouth, Mass., where Greg Kulowiec‘s ninth grade world history class is watching history unfold in Egypt.  We hear from Mr. Kulowiec and one of his students, Brianna Sacchetti, who is comparing the Egyptian protests to the French revolution of more than 200 years ago.

• YouTube: Student videos
• Brown University: Choices Curriculum on Egypt