Address to DESE Board, Sept. 2012

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 […]

Letter to DESE June ’12 (in response to Commissioner Chester’s letter)

      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 […]

Plight of US History Instruction in MA – Lowell Sun Editorial

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

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 School Systems – SS Education Needed

The following is an emailed letter MCSS has sent to school superintendents, assistant superintendents, and school committees throughout the Commonwealth:   To:      Massachusetts School Asst. Superintendents From: Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies (MCSS) Date: August 16, 2012   Dear  ,   It is that time of year again, the most exciting time […]

Letter to DESE June 2012 – SS Instruction

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

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 […]