History and social studies remain an academic core subject in the Boston Public Schools says Interim Superintendent McDonough

Dear Friends, Below is an official response from John McDonough, Interim Superintendent of the Boston Public Schools, pertaining to online rumors that Boston Public Schools was eliminating the History and Social Studies department: There is a lot of misinformation circulating online and I want to set the record straight. History and Social Studies is remaining […]

NCSS National Convention Coming to Boston in 2014

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 […]

NY Times Article Supports SS Education in Powerful Tone

  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. […]

NCSS Seattle Conference Summary: Huge Success!

    The 2012 National Conference of NCSS held in Seattle, Washington was a powerful and multi-faceted professional gathering held November 15-18 at the Washington State Conference Center. The diversity of clinics and workshops offered was impressive, with something for every level and every area of the Social Studies. However, there were specific highlights that […]

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 […]