by Lawrence Bruce

Do the Common Core Standards Flunk History?

May 13, 2013 in Uncategorized

This article was originally posted at George Mason University’s History News Network. It is written by Craig Thurtell, a former teacher at Ardsley High School in Ardsley, New York.

By now, virtually every public school teacher has heard about the Common Core State Standards (referred to here as CCSS, the Standards, or the common core). Set forth in their final version in May of 2010, they claim to “represent a synthesis of the best elements of standards-related work to date and an important advance over that previous work.” (p. 3 of the CCSS) The CCSS have been adopted by 46 states so far for English language arts (ELA) and 45 for mathematics. They primarily address those two fields, but they fold other subjects, including history, into the ELA standards. As the Standards took shape, the National Council for the Social Studies expressed an understandable concern that they include a meaningful presence for social studies, but made no objection to their basic approach to reading and writing. The National Council for History Education was similarly concerned about the role of history, but concluded that “[t]he Literacy Standards for History/Social Studies focuses [sic] on deep and critical, discipline-specific reading, writing, and thinking at grades 6-12.” Rearguard resistance notwithstanding, in the states that have adopted them, school districts are advancing toward implementation, with testing set to begin in 2014-2015.

Read the rest of this entry →

No Comments »

by Lawrence Bruce

Robert Remini has passed away

April 5, 2013 in Uncategorized

SOURCE: Donnellan Family Funeral Services (3-31-13)

Noted American political historian/biographer and former Historian of the U.S. House of Representatives Robert V. Remini of Wilmette IL passed away on March 28 due to complications from a recently suffered stroke. He was 91.

Dr. Remini was born in 1921 in New York City, the son of the late William Remini and Lauretta Tierney Remini. He was the older brother of the late Vincent and William Remini. After graduating from Fordham University, he served as a Lieutenant in the U.S Navy in the Atlantic during WWII before returning to New York to obtain his Masters and Doctorate in History from Columbia University. During these studies in 1948, he married his kindergarten friend and classmate Ruth Kuhner, who passed away in 2012. Together they were the proud parents of Elizabeth Nielson of Eugene OR, Joan Costello of Cincinnati OH, and Robert W Remini of Wilmette IL, as well as grandparents to Caitlin and Brian Costello and Grace Nielson.

After teaching at Fordham for over a decade, Dr. Remini moved to Chicago and became the first Chair of the Department of History at the newly established University of Illinois-Chicago where he later founded and chaired the UIC Institute for the Humanities. During this period he published his three-volume biography of Andrew Jackson, the third of which won the National Book Award for Non Fiction in 1984. He followed with several other acclaimed biographies of the leading political figures of the Jackson era such as Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John Quincy Adams as well as other books on Jacksonian history.

In recognition of his scholarship, Dr. Remini was asked to author the official history of the United States House of Representatives, which was published in 2006. In 2004, he was named to the position of Historian of the United States House of Representatives. He retired from this position in 2010. While the winner of many prestigious awards for his writings, Dr. Remini was most happy in the classroom teaching. His lectures were passionate and thought provoking as he taught both future historians and those who just loved history. It is for this reason that the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Robert V Remini Scholarship Fund at the University of Illinois Foundation, 1305 W Greene St. Urbana IL 61801.

Tags: No Comments »

by Lawrence Bruce

WWII USO Dance

March 20, 2013 in History Content, Local History Interests, Special Events

JGHS - USO DANCE Poster-FlyerIt is one thing in history education to stimulate the imagination to connect the past to the present for students. Teachers strive to engage students’ minds for the purpose of seeing history through the eyes of participants. However, it is quite another to literally bring history alive and recreate it using the participants themselves.

That is precisely what is happening at John Glenn High School in Westland, MI. Led by super-teacher Michelle Anderson at John Glenn High, this event is a special “wrap-up” to an oral history project that her students are engaged in.

According to Anderson, her students have been:

“interviewing and videotaping WWII veterans and defense workers from southeastern Michigan. These interviews will be placed onto DVDs with copies given to the participants, local museums and the Library of Congress. The participants will receive a copy of their interview at the dance where they will be our special guests of honor.”

The free dance will be held on May 8, a date of some significance, as it is the 68th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. In order to make the event more authentic, efforts have been made for extra impact. Among these are the vehicles on display made possible by the Detroit Arsenal of Democracy and the special music provided by crooner Matt Walch (singermattwalch.com).

The MCHE would like to congratulate Michelle and all of the people who have made this possible as well as her students who will be provided an immeasurable experience through this event and the work that preceded it. We are honored to promote this event and we strongly encourage every reader to recognize the same. Click the poster thumbnail above for event information.

The MCHE would like to recognize the many teachers who are part of the WWII USO Dance committee at John Glenn High School in Westland, MI.

1. Michele Anderson-project director

2. Principal David Ingham-financial director

3. Asst. Principal Sheri Grove

4. Asst. Principal Marva Foster

5. Steve Conn

6. Jeff Wesley

7. Kathleen Butler

8. Brad Jennings

9. Linda Favorite

10. Lynda Turner

11. Scott Cramer

12. Linda Willman

13. Kevin Gidley

14. Tim Hardin

15. John Retzer

16. Steve Waller

17. Sgt. Michael Bickford

18. Sgt. Major Benjamin Brown

Dr. Martin Herschock from U of M Dearborn is also part of the program.

No Comments »

by Peter Knupfer

Stanford History Education Group Retools Website

February 11, 2013 in History Content, History Education Research, Lesson Plans

Sam Wineburg’s History Education Group at Stanford University has revamped its website to emphasize new rubrics and assessments, history education advanced training programs, and new lesson plans in world history that apply the Group’s research into history learning and literacy. Check it out!

No Comments »

by Peter Knupfer

The Return of Richard III

February 6, 2013 in British History, History Content

Back in the day my father used to tell his history students about the murdered nephews of Richard III, by referring to them as the “smothered brothers,” a joke that shows my age and that kids nowadays have to hunt Youtube to understand. And the old king is back, his bones now uncovered and DNA-certified, the University of Leicester basking in the publicity, and academics now entering the fray to question why all the fuss when so many other remarkable finds that could tell us so much more about life in the fifteenth century remain unheralded or undiscovered.

But what a teachable CSI moment this is!  The Richard III Society scrounged for money to fund the dig, run the DNA tests, and then to reconstruct Richard’s face from the recovered skull.  Not only does the reconstruction offer some interesting opportunities for teachers to discuss nutrition, late medieval weaponry, dress, “humiliation injuries” after battle (a topic best left for older students to ponder), and other rites of the period, it also puts a fascinating face onto a portrait so fiercely etched by the Tudors and their chief propagandist, William Shakespeare.  So here also is a chance to look at how victors write history and how culture influences heritage until it is challenged by the work of the historian.  I doubt that the discovery will do much to change the way that the onset of the early modern era will be taught, but maybe the conventional lesson plans that blame Richard for the nephews’ disappearance and death will get a second look.

1 Comment »

by Peter Knupfer

Join us for the Joint Annual Conference at Macomb Community College

October 16, 2012 in 2012 Joint Conferece, Organizational Matters, Special Events

MCHE is joining up with sister disciplines in civics, geography, and economics at the Michigan Council for Social Studies annual conference, November 2-3, at Macomb Community College, John Lewis Student Community Center.  Click here for the latest session program; register here for the conference.


View Larger Map

 

No Comments »

by Peter Knupfer

We’re sailing into 1812 again, so join us…

May 16, 2012 in Local History Interests, Special Events

Once again we are partnering with the Michigan Maritime Museum and the Michigan Commission on the Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 to sponsor a fascinating historical venture out on the water, out of South Haven, MI. Registration includes presentations on the War of 1812 on the Great Lakes; the “History of Friends Good Will: Past & Present”, Tour of the Michigan Maritime Museum, box lunch, and a Lake Michigan cruise on the historic replica Friends Good Will, August 4, 2012, from 10 to 3.

The ship, according to Jim Spurr, Chairman, Friends Good Will Committee of the Michigan Maritime Museum Board. is “rigged to a museum standard of authenticity and detail” that “allows her passengers a few steps back in time, reliving the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes. While the wind and waves are timeless, shipping aboard a sailing vessel armed with its own black powder long gun, is a rare and memorable experience.”

Registration ends June 30, $60/person for the day, $50 for MCHE members and their immediate families, so if you’re interested, click here for the informational flyer and registration form.

No Comments »

by Peter Knupfer

MCHE + LOC + ISD + RESA = Great PD this summer

April 6, 2012 in Special Events

The Michigan Council for History Education is partnering with the Library of Congress, Wayne RESA, Copper Country ISD, and Kent ISD to provide 54 teachers or media specialists with powerful professional development workshops using the Library’s digital treasures.  This will be a terrific opportunity to get hands-on experience incorporating digital images, audio, video, and texts into lesson plans.  Applications are due soon, so visit here for details and application forms.

Tags: No Comments »

by Peter Knupfer

Special edition of our December E-Notes Newsletter

December 16, 2011 in E-Notes

Jim McConnell, our tireless founder and editor of the MCHE monthly newsletter, has posted a special edition for this month:

I infrequently violate my rule of emailing only once/month to the MCHE E-Notes group via the MSU H-Net system. Information about a very unique social studies opportunity prompts this email. A few of you may have already seen the announcement of the position, but MCHE E-Notes reaches a large audience. One never knows who might find this of interest. Then, I did decide to include a few special items for your consideration.

Find it here.

Tags: No Comments »

by Peter Knupfer

Register now for the annual joint conference and save…

October 18, 2011 in 2011 Joint Conference

Early registration for the Joint Conference in Lansing this November expires by October 21, when rates go up from $160 to $200 for the entire weekend! The conference provides a one-stop professional development experience that allows for historical depth and interdisciplinary breadth across fields and subjects, so take advantage of this great opportunity and join us at the Causeway Hotel in Lansing Nov 4-6.

Tags: 2 Comments »