MORGANTOWN, Ky. (October 27, 2025) — In an era where critical thinking and analysis are vital life skills, students at Butler County High School are bringing history to life through the power of problem solving. Students at BCHS recently embarked on an immersive exploration of the Great Depression, examining not just the events of the era but the complex web of causes and effects that shaped it.

This innovative classroom experience, part of Butler County Schools’ ongoing commitment to its Portrait of a Learner framework, invited students to think like historians. Using primary and secondary sources such as political cartoons, graphs, quotations, and period articles, students analyzed key social and economic patterns from the late 1920s. The goal wasn’t merely to memorize facts, but to uncover relationships between those facts and to ask why the Great Depression unfolded as it did, and what lessons it continues to teach us today.

Principal Young described the day’s lesson as a powerful reflection of what the Problem Solving indicator looks like in action. “Students were asked to make connections between complex factors like the stock market crash, agricultural challenges, protective tariffs, and income inequality,” Young said. “They had to sift through multiple sources, identify relationships, and build evidence-based conclusions. It’s exactly the kind of analytical thinking that prepares them for life beyond the classroom.”

Throughout the exercise, classrooms buzzed with energy. Students clustered around colorful displays, debated economic trends, and worked collaboratively to draw conclusions from the data before them. The walls of the school’s hallways (temporarily transformed into a gallery of 1920s artifacts) became an interactive space for discovery. Photographs from the lesson show students studying posters and charts, pointing out patterns, and discussing how individual decisions can shape broader historical movements.

This hands-on approach aligns directly with Butler County Schools’ Portrait of a Learner, a districtwide initiative designed to help students cultivate lifelong skills across five pillars: Character, Problem Solving, Communication, Collaboration, and Global Citizenship. The initiative emphasizes learning that extends beyond academic content - preparing students to navigate challenges with curiosity, empathy, and resilience.

For Principal Young, the lesson also reflects the district’s broader mission to help students think independently while working together. “History offers some of the best opportunities to build problem-solving skills,” he explained. “When students analyze the past using evidence, they’re learning about what happened but they’re also learning how to approach problems methodically, to weigh different perspectives, and to develop solutions that make sense in a complex world.”

The Problem Solving pillar of the Portrait of a Learner encourages students to “analyze information, think critically, and approach challenges with creativity and persistence.” The Great Depression project exemplified that ideal: students encountered conflicting sources, evaluated reliability, and synthesized findings to reach thoughtful conclusions. It was an exercise in academic rigor but also in perseverance, as they worked through uncertainty to uncover clarity.

Teachers reported that the project fostered deep engagement and collaboration. Students supported one another as they interpreted charts or decoded political cartoons, often building on each other’s insights. “It was great to see how they talked through the material together,” Young noted. “They realized that problem solving is so much more than just individual effort. It requires listening, questioning, and finding patterns together.”

Beyond its historical content, the activity demonstrated how education in Butler County continues to evolve. Lessons like these are designed to help students see connections between what they study and the real world around them - equipping them not only for college and career readiness but for thoughtful citizenship.

“This is what our Portrait of a Learner looks like in motion,” said Young. “Students are engaged, curious, and confident in their ability to ask hard questions. That’s something they’ll carry with them long after graduation.”

As Butler County Schools continue to celebrate stories like this one, the district reaffirms its dedication to preparing every learner to thrive in an ever-changing world. Whether in a history classroom, a science lab, or a community service project, the district’s core vision remains constant: empowering students with the durable skills they need for success—skills like problem solving, collaboration, and communication that make them truly Butler Strong.

One team with one vision that makes us Butler Strong.