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(A thread) How many @mcps high schools offer African American History & Latin American History? I taught both of these at BCC High School in the 90's. How much of @mcps social studies curriculum goes deep into the experience of BIPOC? Why is US History split btw grades 8&9?
2) given our students' demand to see themselves on the curriculum, and given that social studies is the natural venue for this history to be taught, along w/ sociology, comparative religion, etc, should these be electives? How much of AP GOV and NSL teaches kids to regurgitate...
3)... gov structures and processes & how much does it teach students to question the socio-economic-political system it has fostered? And finally, after 20 years of NCLB, federally mandated standardized exams, bridge projects, cut and past curriculum, test prep pull outs...
4) and chipping away at the humanities for a focus on STEM, can we PLEASE now acknowledge the value of English, social sciences, the arts, and critical thinking? what has mandated testing gotten us? Has the gap in state test performance btw. student groups been closed? Why do...
5)... we continue down this road? No testing in 2020. Given the current planning around the country for opening schools, are we realistically going to have standardized test in spring of 2021? This seems like the perfect opportunity to break away from this system...
6)... and throw everything we have into humanities education. Give local districts, schools, and most importantly, TEACHERS, the autonomy to create lessons that cater to their communities and their students. When I taught at BCC High School in the 90's, there was not one...
7)... BIPOC in the social studies department. I taught African American History & Latin American History. Back then I had the freedom to create these courses, and these were the classes my students loved most. These are the classes they remember. Listen to the students. Now.
