Social Studies Department

Students will:

  • demonstrate an understanding of the sequence of events in history;
  • demonstrate an understanding of the cause and effect relationship in history: how individual choices, actions, ideas and characters affect outcomes in history;
  • recognize the meaning and importance of historical events;
  • recognize that history is unpredictable and that people in history were real people who were affected by the times in which they lived and who made choices which affected those who came after them;
  • learn to use primary sources and draw valid conclusions; realize the difference between historical fact and interpretation as a means to collect, evaluate and employ information;
  • develop an awareness of, and an ability to communicate about the history of minority groups and marginalized people;
  • develop an awareness of, and communicate knowledge of stereotyping and its effects in society;
  • communicate an awareness of the benefits and drawbacks of living in societies whether homogeneous or heterogeneous in composition;
  • communicate a knowledge of discoveries in science technology and their effects, beneficial and harmful, on individuals, groups and societies, especially in the areas of communications, education, economics and warfare;
  • be able to locate regions, nations, boundaries, cities, towns, roads, railroads, canals, harbors, fortifications and trade routes;
  • demonstrate a knowledge of how geography has affected and continues to have an impact on societies in the world relative to economics, political systems, population distribution, human migration, transportation and human aspirations;
  • develop an understanding of the basic tenets of the world's major religions and how these tenets have supported ethical behavior, including justice and respect for human rights; this will reinforce the lessons covered in the curriculum of the religion department; students will also understand how religious differences have been misapplied as a cause of conflict and injustice in many cases;
  • comprehend the basic concepts of economics which are necessary to understand the economic systems of the world now and in the past, including feudalism and the economics of the manor, mercantilism, colonialism, capitalism, socialism and communism;
  • become familiar with the documents which have shaped American history, including the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and certain of the Federalist papers; they will be able to understand the circumstances which led to the writing of these documents and be able to evaluate their purposes and effectiveness;
  • demonstrate comprehension of the significance of figures of power in government as opposed to those holding positions of power in any institution;
  • show knowledge of how the U.S. government works in securing the rights of its citizens;
  • recognize their rights and duties as citizens and respect the principle of equal rights for all; they will have a sense of what is expected of them as good citizens of their school, their community and their nation; they will also be able to recognize and confront the obstacles and threats which exist to civil rights;
  • be able to identify, compare and contrast various forms of government and the ways of life they promote or hinder; they will be in a position to evaluate these forms of government in terms of justice, liberty, efficiency, public safety and opportunity in education, economics and social mobility.

Faculty:

Courses: (click on the class names below to read the course descriptions)