MCSS Newsline I Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies

BREAKING NEWS: Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has unanimously voted to approve and adopt the 2018 Massachusetts State History and Social Science curriculum framework.

06/26/2018 by Gorman Lee Leave a Comment

June 26, 2018 Today, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education unanimously voted to approve and adopt the 2018 revision of the Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework. Congratulations to Dave Buchanan, Sue Wheltle, Heather Peske, and to the entire History and Social Science curriculum framework review panel for their hard work and dedication […]

Filed Under: Administration, Advocacy, Anthropology, Articles, Civics (Citizenship), CMCSS Central Mass Council, Economics, Events, Featured, GBCSS Greater Boston Council, Geography, Government and Politics, History, Library, MCSS News and Updates, MCSS Newsline, Professional Development, Psychology, Sociology, Teacher Observation & Evaluation Tagged With: curriculum, curriculum framework, History and Social Science, scope and sequence

Full (Complete) Statement from Gorman Lee, Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies, to MA Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

05/22/2018 by Gorman Lee Leave a Comment

May 22, 2018 Good morning. My name is Gorman Lee of Boston, Massachusetts. I started my teaching career in Massachusetts in 1993. I taught in Medford and Braintree, and currently serve as the K-12 Director of Social Studies for the Braintree Public Schools. I am also the Director of Professional Development Programming and past […]

Bridge of Spies is a Time-Piece!

10/27/2015 by Norm Shacochis Leave a Comment

We have all seen period films and realize that their historical accuracy often leaves much to be desired. Having just viewed Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies recently, I fully recognize that there were some liberties taken with events, dialogue, and so on. However… a huge “However”… this film does not take liberties at all in the […]

Filed Under: Articles, Government and Politics, History, MCSS Newsline, Sociology Tagged With: Cold War, Communism, Espionage, Nuclear War, Spies, US History

C3 Framework Holds Great Promise and Potential

12/03/2013 by Norm Shacochis Leave a Comment

At the recent St. Louis NCSS National Conference, the major initiative of the conference was the unveiling of and enthusiasm for the new College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards: State Guidance for Enhancing the Rigor of K-12 Civics, Economics, Geography, and History This initiative is the result of exhaustive […]

Filed Under: Administration, Advocacy, Articles, Civics (Citizenship), Economics, Geography, Government and Politics, History, MCSS News and Updates, MCSS Newsline, Professional Development, Psychology, Sociology Tagged With: C3, Career, Civics, College, Common Core, DESE, Framework, Massachusetts, Social Sciences, Social Studies

NCSS National Convention Coming to Boston in 2014

04/20/2013 by Norm Shacochis 5 Comments

NCSS National Conference Update November 21-23, 2014 seems a long way off, but yet for the NCSS National Convention and those dates in Boston, it is right around the corner. The Conference’s theme is Let Freedom Ring! The Civic Mission of Our Schools and NCSS has already contracted with the Hynes Convention Center and […]

Filed Under: Advocacy, Anthropology, Civics (Citizenship), Economics, Geography, Government and Politics, History, MCSS News and Updates, MCSS Newsline, Professional Development, Psychology, Sociology Tagged With: 2014, Advocacy, Boston, civic education, Civics, Commissioner of DESE, DESE, Education, Frameworks, Government, History education, MA Dept of Education, Massachusetts, MCSS, NCSS Conference, Social Studies education

NY Times Article Supports SS Education in Powerful Tone

12/16/2012 by Norm Shacochis Leave a Comment

In Ignorance We Trust By TIMOTHY EGAN A packet of letters arrived the other day from the honors English class at St. Lawrence School in Brasher Falls, N.Y. Snail mail, from high school sophomores? Yes, and honest, witty and insightful snail mail at that. They had been forced to read a book of mine. […]

Filed Under: Advocacy, Articles, Civics (Citizenship), Government and Politics, History, MCSS News and Updates, MCSS Newsline Tagged With: Advocacy, Civics, History education, Social Studies, SS

Generation Citizen Day at State House

12/12/2012 by Norm Shacochis Leave a Comment

December 12, 2012 – a day that was unique for many reasons, one being that it was Generation Citizen Day at the State House in Massachusetts. 300+ students gathered in the Great Hall of Flags in 2 different sessions to showcase their projects, discuss with judges their research work, plans, and reasons that the problems […]

Filed Under: Advocacy, Civics (Citizenship), GBCSS Greater Boston Council, Government and Politics, MCSS Newsline, Sociology Tagged With: Citizen, citizenship, Civics, community service, Generation Citizen, Greater Boston Council, MCSS, mission statements, service learning.