Journey through History...

My son started Civics yesterday. Bittersweet for me. I love civics and I am pretty active and take my citizenship pretty seriously. For those that need a refresher ~civics: a social science dealing with the rights and duties of citizens (Merriam-Webster). Or, the study of the rights and duties of citizens and of how government works. So why bittersweet? Because his class, the class of 2019 might be the last class to have the opportunity to take civics. There has been a push to integrate civics into other US History classes rather than to have a specific Civics class available to students, as a US History class.
On September 24th the Instructional Committee were presented with a new US History I course. There were three instructional committee members present, and three other board members present that night. So half of the Rochester School Board did not see this presentation. The course would be offered to sophomores, and in the end would raise History credit requirements by a ½ credit.   At first look, the proposal seemed like a great idea, but then we were told that the quarter required classes of economics, and civics would be eliminated. Fortunately, one of the board members who happens to teach History at a neighboring school district, was not only there, he also sits on the committee. Being that History/Civics is a passion for him, he knew all the right questions and concerns to raise.

We were told that civics would still be taught, but it would be through the new course. It was said that it would be making it “stronger and more in-depth.” The pessimist in me doubts that. Specifically, one of the slides in the presentation says, “Consolidates Civics curriculum into the US History I topics.”
We were told that the History Department has been working on this change for about two years. They were hoping for committee approval in September, full board approval in October, so that they could get the Program of Studies completed, updated for the 2016-2107 school year. Fortunately, no votes have been taken yet by anyone. Usually, something is worked on for years, and then is voted on immediately, by a trusting, agreeable board with virtually no research or vetting during the process. Thank goodness there is a History teacher on the board because Lord knows they wouldn't have taken any of my concerns seriously. At the time of the presentation, they said they would use the US History textbooks. “American Vision” that we currently are using, and then implement some online resources. I have emailed the HS History department to ask, what else will be used in class. The reply was the American Vision textbook. I knew that, so I will email again and ask about more specific about online resources.

The presentation was the third presentation of that evening.

 A couple of the points that were made during the Presentation…

*Economics, (a social studies requirement) had the highest enrollment for sophomores in 2014-2015. 75% did not pass. We didn't get numbers on civics passing rates.

*We would not need to increase staff.

I walked away from the meeting tentatively pleased. A stronger US History class would be nice, but is it really?

Only 24% of High School seniors score proficient, or as we like to say in Rochester “competent,” on the US civic literacy test. Is eliminating required civics courses going to improve those numbers?

Watch the presentation here:

http://www.rochesterschools.com/schoolboardvids/instruc9_24_15.html

While your contemplating if removing civics from course requirements is a good idea, consider this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiZFXkmofgI


Just Saying.