Saratoga News
News
History is alive in high schools, teachers tell the school board
By Michele Tjin
From the Constitutional Convention to the civil rights movement to the ancient world, high school social studies teachers bring up lessons of the past to study the present and future. According to the social studies departments at Los Gatos and Saratoga high schools, history is alive and well.
At the May 1 meeting of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District, social studies teachers from both schools board presented highlights and goals of the departments. In teaching the link between social, political and economic events, instructors at Saratoga use role simulations to bring important historical moments to life, and their counterparts in Los Gatos stress analytic reading and clear writing.
"They learn how to read for information," said Tom Hughes, Los Gatos social studies department chair. "What we ask is for students to think, analyze and write clearly to communicate ideas so they can function in society."
One victory Hughes cited in his presentation is the success of social studies electives, such as anthropology and advanced placement European history. These two courses have been popular with students and may have additional sections next year, but classes in criminal justice and military history failed to get the required number of sign-ups. Because these are electives, students sign up for these classes because they're interested, Hughes said.
"Students are giving up something to take these classes," he said.
Alec Brasier, a Los Gatos junior who serves as a student representative to the board, said he enjoys having a broad menu of social studies classes to choose from.
"It's nice to have that choice. They're competitive courses and come in a wide array," he said. "If I could take all history classes, I would."
At Saratoga, teachers say role simulations commonly used in history classes are what students remember most. "When we do the Constitutional Convention, students are put in the shoes of the Founding Fathers, but they come to realize that they can solve the same problems that these brilliant men tackled," history teacher Kim Anzalone said.
Other role simulations include a Puritan court, a black leadership convention in 1968 and a Congressional panel visiting a Japanese internment camp.
"This is an enriching part of the curriculum," she said.
Teachers spoke of other teaching methods. Economics teacher Todd Dwyer said he videotapes interview sessions he holds with college professors and former cabinet members about heady material, such as global financial crises. Dwyer visits these economic intellectuals during school breaks and shares the interview sessions with his students.
"They can listen to a densely packed conversation and not be intimidated," he said.
Department chairman Chuck Newport spoke about the oral history project his students work on, in which they interview a grandparent. History and geography teacher Matt Torrens described learning opportunities outside of the classroom, such as a Wild West field trip to historical sites. History teacher Jerry Sheehy talked about using technology in the classroom and teaching students how to discern the validity of material found online.
Saratoga offers fewer electives than does Los Gatos, and teachers said that in the past not enough students have signed up when new classes were offered. Board member Michele van Zuiden suggested that in such a competitive time for college admissions, Saratoga students who are not inclined toward math or science would welcome more honors or advanced placement classes in the humanities.
The board congratulated both departments on their teaching efforts.
In other board news, two parents of Redwood Middle School students objected to Saratoga's elimination of French 1 next year because of a lack of interest.
"Not every student is a high achiever," said parent Marlene Coe. "As more AP classes are added, basic entry-level classes should not be forgotten."
