As a service to members of the Massachusetts Council and the wider social studies community, third party events may be posted in this calendar. Third party events are not endorsed by the MCSS board.
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We are currently working with Framingham State University and Suffolk University to offer graduate credits for the successful completion of the six-day content institute. Workshops include sessions for teachers on incorporating the content learned from the seminars to design and develop meaningful instruction that can be implemented into the classroom.
The Massachusetts Center for Civic Education (MACCE) will unveil its adult learning initiative on Friday, October 28th, at the Asa Waters Mansion in Millbury, Massachusetts, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Citizen Lyceum is intended to give greater understanding about American government. Its first topic will be on the Bill of Rights. MACCE is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that promotes civic learning and engagament in the community from primary through higher and continuing education. Through its We the People programs we support civic education in our schools and beyond. The event is free and open to the public. There will be light refreshments following the presentation provided by the Friends of Asa Waters Mansion. For further information please call Roger Desrosiers at 508-728-4733 or email at rodesros@gmail.com. http://masscivics.org/
Sharpen your skills, gain new techniques, and further your professional goals at the 2016 NCSS Annual Conference.
- Learn best practices and the latest research from experts and colleagues in social studies education
- Receive classroom-ready lessons
- Interact with nationally-known speakers and educators
- Share teaching strategies and solutions with peers
- Expand your professional network
- Discover the latest teaching resources, products and services in the exhibit hall
The culminating activity for the We the People: The Citizen & The Constitution program is a simulated congressional hearing in which students “testify” in front of a panel of judges acting as members of Congress. In addition to the simulated congressional hearings, some teachers, schools and districts choose to participate in the State and National Finals or the National Invitational. These additional learning opportunities can be exciting to many students and serve to further their understanding of the constitution and government.
Hearings
During the simulated hearings, students have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles through their testimony in front of a panel of judges. The entire class, working in cooperative teams, prepares and presents statements before a panel of community representatives acting as a congressional committee. Students then answer follow-up questions posed by the committee members. They will have the opportunity to evaluate, take and defend their position on a variety of historical and contemporary issues. In addition to the hands on learning experience the hearings offer, they also serve as an effective way for teachers to evaluate their student’s grasp of the material.
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Application extended deadline: June 30, 2017
The Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies (MCSS) will present its second annual summer content institute for K-12 social studies teachers from July 31, 2017 to August 4, 2017. The central focus of the summer content institute is on Article III of the U.S. Constitution—the federal Judiciary. Constitution scholar Linda R. Monk (2003) describes Article III of the U.S. Constitution as “the shortest, and least specific, of the constitutional provisions establishing the three branches of government” (p. 90).
The intensive five-day content institute will be held at the John Adams Courthouse, Massachusetts Historical Society, Suffolk University, and African Meeting House from July 31, 2017 to August 4, 2017. The focus is on Article III of the U.S. Constitution, focusing on a range of landmark Supreme Court cases, biographies of notable Supreme Court justices, its relationships with the Executive and Legislative branches of federal and state governments, and principles of judicial philosophy, restraint, and activism, and the rule of law with respects to the Bill of Rights.
Guest speakers include Professor Mary S. Bilder of Boston College, author of Madison’s Hand: Revising the Constitutional Constitution (Harvard University Press, 2015), David L. Hudson of Nashville School of Law, Honorable Robert Cordy (retired) of the Massachusetts Supreme Court, Charlie Newhall of St. John Prep, Professor Robert Allison of Suffolk University, Barbara Berenson of John Adams Courthouse, Kathleen Barker of Massachusetts Historical Society, Chris Duggan from American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and L’Merchie Frazier of Museum of African American History.
Some of the key objectives of the summer content institute include: examining long-lasting principles of the federal judiciary including, but not limited to, judicial review, judicial restraint, judicial activism, and strict construction versus loose construction; exploring how the federal judiciary have affected the relationship between the federal government and the states and the people; and analyzing the Supreme Court’s interpretations of the U.S. Constitution throughout the course of American history. In this content institute teachers will study the historical origins and developments of the federal judiciary by examining a variety of primary source materials including, but not limited to, Alexander Hamilton’s Federalist 78, Judiciary Act of 1789 and of 1801, Marbury v. Madison (1803), McCulloch v. Maryland (1819). Teachers will also look at how the rulings or actions of the Supreme Court may have led to constitutional amendments, and how constitutional amendments have affected the Supreme Court in interpreting the U.S. Constitution and future rulings. Teacher participants will also examine and assess consequential rulings including but not limited to Dred Scott v. Sanford, Plessy v. Ferguson, Korematsu v. United States, The Slaughterhouse Cases, Obergefell v. Hodges, and Citizens United v. FEC.
Partnerships: MCSS will be partnering, once again, with Massachusetts Center for Civic Education (MACCE) and James Madison Legacy Project (JMLP) and offer this professional development opportunity to its cohort members and provide historical content to its program mission and objectives for teaching and learning. MCSS is also seeking to build partnerships with Suffolk University (SU), University of Massachusetts-Boston (UMB), Boston Public Schools, New England History Teachers Association (NEHTA), American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Teacher Law School program, and Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS).
LODGING AT SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY DORMS IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON
Suffolk University has available lodging in the downtown Boston campus at Miller Hall, West Hall, and Modern Suites for summer content institute participants at an additional cost.
- Single with Shared Bath: $81.00 per individual per night
- Double with Bath for 4: $62.00 per individual per night
- Quad (minimum 3 people): $49.00 per individual per night (Miller Hall only)
- If you are interested in staying at Suffolk University and would like more information, please email Gorman at glee0524@gmail.com.
COMMUTING/PARKING
If you plan to commute daily, there are several parking garages near the Suffolk University Boston campus. The Boston Common Parking Garage is open 24 hours/7 days and is located underneath the Boston Common (entrance is on Charles Street, between the Boston Common and Public Gardens). Daily rate is $32 (Mon through Fri). Discounted price with online reservations.
For more information, visit http://bostonparking.spplus.com/Boston-Boston-Common-Garage-Zero-Charles-Street-Parking.html#Tab_coupon-rates
It is more affordable to park your car overnight at the Alewife T or Braintree T Station ($7-8 per day/night) and take the subway to Park Street in downtown Boston. Riverside T Station also has parking ($13/night). http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/
The Route 128 T Station in Westwood is $14/night; park and take the Commuter Rail to South Station in Boston (then take Red Line to Park Street). http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/rail/lines/stations/?stopId=178
GRADUATE CREDITS OR PDPS
Finally, participants will have the option to earn 3 graduate credits from Framingham State University for an additional cost of $225, or 70 PDPs in content (history and government/political science). Participants will also be introduced to the Center for Civic Education We the People program, which coincides with the summer content institute.
REGISTRATION COSTS AND METHOD OF PAYMENT
Registration costs to this summer’s content institute is as follows:
- MCSS/NCSS/NEHTA member/individual ($300)
- MCSS/NCSS/NEHTA non-member/individual ($450) – cost includes 1 year membership to MCSS
- MACCE cohort member ($200)
- pre-service or retired teacher ($150)
Payment can be made by check (make payable to Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies, or Mass Council). We also accept payment by credit cards (MC, Visa, AmEx, Discover), you can provide your credit card information on the application form. We also accept payment by Purchase Order. Please contact June Coutu (coutuj@comcast.net) to request a copy of W-9 form.
Costs help to fund materials/books, travel expenses and Honorarium for guest speakers, some breakfasts and reception, and administrative costs.
For more information or if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Gorman Lee at glee0524@gmail.com.