Press Release:
Educating Bristol’s Students in their History - A Global Task
Philip A. Streifer, Ph.D.
Bristol Public Schools
December 12, 2007
In a recent article the Bristol Press criticized the School Department for its policy regarding the number of high school American history credits required for graduation. The fact is that most students graduating from Bristol high schools exceed the state and district credit requirement in social studies. Through the offering of both required and elective courses, Bristol students have the opportunity to learn about both history and the social sciences during their high school experience.
Prior to the realignment of the social studies curriculum in the summer of 2006, Bristol students received overlapping instruction in United States history during grades 8 and 10. Changes in our curriculum provide students with a greater depth of understanding of Early American History from the settlement of Jamestown through the Civil War in grade 8 and from Reconstruction to the present-day in grade ten. These changes strengthened the curriculum allowing for in-depth learning of 20th century United States history and world events.
The Connecticut State Statutes require students to successfully complete 3 credits of social studies for high school graduation. Among those credits, students must complete a course in United States history, including United States government at the local, state and national levels, and in the duties, rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the United States. The Bristol Public Schools provide courses to meet these requirements through the offering of United States History (1 credit) and Civics (.5 credits). Students may additionally enroll in Advanced Placement classes in American Government and/or United States History for which they can earn college credit.
The State Curriculum Standards in Social Studies also require students to understand history, political systems, economics systems, culture, international relations and geography of the United States and other regions of the world. Students must successfully complete a course in World History to meet this performance standard (1 credit). The remaining half credit required to meet the state graduation requirement may be taken in economics, law & justice, sociology, psychology, global issues, geography and culture or through the Advanced Placement program.
While we could always add more high school credit requirements to a single subject area, doing so crowds out other fields of study for student exploration. We believe a correct balance has been achieved with the recently modified high school curriculum.
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
6 comments:
TYPICAL "PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL SPEAK".
DOES THIS RHETORIC FROM LYONS EVEN QUALIFY AS A VIABLE RESPONSE?
NO!!!!
What a lame justification for cutting the study of American history in half in our high schools. I like the idea of learning more about the rest of the world -- including Europe, by the way! -- but not at the expense of reducing students' study of our own heritage. If they don't know their own history, they won't benefit from learning about someone else's.
Oh wait, I think Dr. Strifer is calling my house right now to read me his letter via the automated system.
This guy has too much time on his hands.
I don't doubt that the people who made the change meant well, but it was and is foolish to think people won't mind replacing a year of American history with the history of Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa.
At least they cover American history from Reconstruction to present. I remember we were lucky to get up to the Civil War in history.
Having less time to promote their anti-america agenda might not be a bad thing .
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