September 25, 2012 To: DESE Board From: Norm Shacochis, President, Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies (MCSS = MassCouncil) Over the summer months, when many teachers take the opportunity to travel, hit the beach, or simply escape the constant work of the classroom, there was a group of Social Studies teachers (and […]
Plight of US History Instruction in MA – Lowell Sun Editorial
09/04/2012 by Leave a Comment
The following editorial recently appeared in the Lowell Sun. It cries out with the identical message we have been sending to the DESE for several years. Plesae onward the editorial to as many legislators, administrators, parents, etc. as you can. U.S. history lessons getting short shrift With the state pouring $3.2 billion a year into […]
Mass. Senate Special Commission on Civic Education
08/31/2012 by Leave a Comment
Headed by Senator Richard Moore, the Special Commission on Civic Education has met several times and will meet next on Sept. 10, 2012. Bob Kostka, MCSS Immediate Past President, and Norm Shacochis, MCSS President, are members of this Commission. The goals of the Commission are: 1. Construct a usable, working definition of civic engagement & […]
Letter to DESE June 2012 – SS Instruction
08/30/2012 by Leave a Comment
Ms. Julia Phelps, Associate Commissioner for Curriculum and Instruction, DESE Ms. Susan Wheltle, Director of Office of Literacy and Humanities Massachusetts Dept. Of Elementary and Secondary Education 75 Pleasant St Malden, MA 02148-4906 Dear Ms. Phelps and Ms. Wheltle, In his response to my April letter, Commissioner Chester directed me to communicate with you rather […]
DESE Plans Model Curriculum Unit Development
07/16/2012 by Leave a Comment
I attended a meeting at the DESE office yesterday (June 21, 2012) and came away with mixed feelings. First, there were very few constituencies represented that were comprised of classroom educators. The likes of the Tsongas Museum, New England Aquarium, and Primary Source were represented and they all certainly mean well, but none are actual […]