HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES

Courses in the History and Social Studies Department teach, encourage and support students to be:

Competent learners whose academic goals are to:

· Read with understanding and insight.

· Write with clarity and precision.

· Utilize technology in the presentation of information to others.

· Solve problems critically and analytically.

Responsible individuals whose civic goals are to:

· Demonstrate character values and ethical behavior.

· Understand and appreciate the value of diversity amongst students and staff.

· Understands and appreciates the Island community and one’s unique connection to Martha’s Vineyard.

Complex thinkers whose social goals are to:

· Become capable of self-reflection.

· Accept and use constructive criticism.

· Take responsible intellectual risks.

· Hold high expectations for their academic or career decisions.

The History and Social Studies Department's courses are heterogeneously grouped except for those electives classified as Advanced Placement or Honors.

All History and Social Studies electives are open to Juniors and Seniors only.

AP U.S. HISTORY

5 Credits Full Year Advanced Placement

Prerequisite: Recommendation of the department and a grade of 90% or above in Global Studies 10. A written comprehension assessment is to be given at a designated time prior to acceptance in the program. *Students are required to take the Advanced Placement exam in May. Payment for the exam is due to the principal at the end of the first quarter. A summer assignment must be completed before entering this course in the fall.

Advanced Placement U.S. History is a challenging course that is meant to be equivalent to a freshmen college course and can earn students college credit. It is a yearlong survey of American History from the age of exploration and discovery to the present. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote considerable time to homework and study are necessary to succeed. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills, essay writing, and interpretation of original documents.

AP WORLD HISTORY

5 Credits Full Year Advanced Placement

Prerequisite: Seniors only. An 80% average in U.S. History and recommendation of the department. *Students are required to take the Advanced Placement exam in May. Payment for the exam is due to the principal at the end of the first quarter. A summer assignment must be completed before entering this course in the fall.

This course encompasses the entire span of human history, man’s journey from the ocean to the earth to the sky, paying special attention to the concepts of continuity and change across time and space. Beginning with a review of the period 8,000 BCE to the fall of the Han and Roman Empires, this course examines the events that have led to increasing globalization, to the ebb and flow of power and to the resiliency of the human spirit. Because this is a college-level course, it relies strongly on the completion and comprehension of advanced reading and participation in class discussions. An emphasis will be placed upon historical writing demonstrating the skills of analysis and synthesis; to this end, particular attention is paid to primary and secondary documents.

AP MODERN EUROPE

5 Credits Full Year Advanced Placement

Prerequisite: Recommendation of the department is required. *Students are required to take the Advanced Placement exam in May. Payment for the exam is due to the principal at the end of the first quarter. A summer assignment must be completed before entering this course in the fall.

European AP is a course covering the time frame from the fall of Rome until the present. The course covers 1,000 years of history and eleven countries: tales of intrigue, murder, religion, politics and greed. The goal of the course is to allow the students to familiarize themselves with concepts that will enable them to make connections primarily along the lines of economic, social and political means. Emphasis within the course is placed upon college level reading, evaluation of primary source material and the components of good historical writing. European history, commonly known as Western Civilization, is a requirement at most colleges and is considered the basis of US History.

US HISTORY I (1800-1865)

5 Credits Full Year College A Prerequisite: Required of all Freshmen

This class will teach the fundamentals of US History and trace the development of US History and culture. Included are the American Revolution and the role of constitutional government, the War of 1812, the Monroe Doctrine, Manifest Destiny, Westward Expansion, the compromises between the states and the tensions between the industrializing north and the rural slave owning south which culminated in the Civil War. Attention will be paid to the development of African American culture, the impact of slavery in the United States, the dislocation of native culture, and the interaction between those cultures, the original colonists and the first waves of emigration from Europe.

US HISTORY II

5 Credits Full Year College A Prerequisite: Required of all Juniors

U.S. History is a survey course with an emphasis on the multicultural fabric which makes up American society. Students are encouraged to understand and appreciate the value of diversity while gaining a strong sense of global history. Discussion of current events is an integral part of the course encouraging students to remain open to continued learning. The course begins with a brief review of the Civil War era, and continues through Reconstruction, 19th and 20th century America. Throughout the course, students will be involved in research assignments including the Vineyard History Project where students use a variety of skills to learn more about their island history. The course utilizes film and guest speakers from our community to give students a more complete understanding of U.S.History.

U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

2.5 Credits Semester College A Prerequisite: Required of all Seniors

This course is a study of the basic principles of the American political and economic system as reflected in our local, state, and federal institutions. Emphasis will be placed on our political process, the separation of powers, and the system of checks and balances, basic economic principles. There is a strong emphasis on current events impacting the U.S. and the world. Contemporary issues are explored through a variety of media, and students are encouraged to actively learn through research and debate.

SPORTS IN AMERICA

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted Prerequisite: Juniors and Seniors

Sport, both participatory and spectator, has long been a theater for social and political issues that have defined this nation in the past half century. Either through individual choice or by government compulsion, athletes and athletic events has become political vehicles used to drive specific agendas, often catapulting the ordinary onto the pages of history. The issues of our times those of race, gender, social class and globalization and events such as the Cold War, Apartheid in South Africa, the Vietnam War and the Arab Israeli conflict have shaped, and continue to shape, the conscience and direction of this nation in the 21st century.

INTRODUCTION TO LAW

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted Prerequisite: Juniors and Seniors

This course will introduce students to the study of law through an examination of the following topics: Law definitions, the Bill of Rights, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Civil Law. In the study of Common and Civil Law, there is much to consider and the course raises vital questions about fairness, security and individual rights in a free society. Involvement of community lawyers, court clerks and police officers in the classroom and visits to the court house and police stations are an integral part of the class. Through a discussion based environment, students learn from each other, interpret data and make use of community resources.

IRISH HISTORY AND CULTURE

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted Prerequisite: Juniors and Seniors This class covers the mythology and social/cultural patterns of the Irish people throughout their history, and includes an examination of Irish history from the time of Celtic dominance in Ireland through the Christian era, the colonization of Ireland, the Famine, the War of Independence and the peace process in Northern Ireland. The course includes exposure to cultural experience, major art, music or building projects and a research study into the Irish contribution to the history of Martha's Vineyard. There is an established teaching program in the Island's grade schools, community businesses and Senior Centers. Each year, there is a trip to Ireland to explore the rich cultural heritage and history.

PSYCHOLOGY

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted Prerequisite: Juniors and Seniors

This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of modern psychological thought. Students will understand the history of psychology in the 19th and 20th centuries. Changing views of psychology are examined in this course as are issues specifically related to understanding human behavior.

SOCIOLOGY

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted Prerequisite: Juniors and Seniors

This course introduces students to the academic background of Sociology and encourages students to think critically on important contemporary issues such as minority cultures and race relations, ageism, sexism, marriage, education, poverty, class demographics within the ethos of an appreciation for diversity. The class will have a focus on crime and the legal system within our society. Students will utilize a variety of media, including film, magazines, newspapers and computer technology, to interpret data and present research projects. There is an active guest speaker program.

AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSICAL TRADITION

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted Prerequisite: Juniors and Seniors

This course will trace the style and development of the African American musical tradition, as well as explore the cultures and lives of the individuals that create and listen to the music. Paying specific attention on the ways that African American composers use the medium to convey meaning to political and social topics of the times, while at the same time vocalizing the ever changing view of African American identity in American society. This course will also examine the interaction between different racial groups in the U.S. from the 19th century to our present moment. Typically, such studies focus solely on the relationship between African Americans and whites, relying on the over simplified Black-white model of U.S. race relations. This class will attempt to expand that view, searching for a broader historical model, which includes all races, religions, and cultures. Topics include: African history, the slave culture, religion, the music of colonial America, 19th-century church and dance music, the Harlem Renaissance, jazz, blues, rock ‘n roll, the Civil Rights Movement, gospel, soul, hip-hop and current events.

MYTHOLOGY; STOREIS, SYMBOLS AND RITUALS

2.5 Credits Semester Unweighted Prerequisite: Juniors and Seniors

Have you ever wondered why good people can participate in evil acts? Why humans commit the same atrocities over and over? What can we learn about the Abu Ghraib scandal and the upsurge in terrorism from the adventures of Jason and the Argonauts or Hercules and his trip through the underworld? How is our society’s obsession with athletes and musicians similar to the Trojan War or the Knights of the Round Table? In this course, we consider how myths give meaning to different events in the human world; how they are woven into politics, culture, and family life; and how we can interpret them. Students will be required to read literature related to myths from the ancient world and apply its meaning to modern events.

SHELTERED HISTORY

5 Credits Full Year College II Prerequisite: None

This class is designed to present English Language Learning students with an opportunity to learn Global History within an environment that places emphasis on visual learning, small group activities, film and support for emergent English speakers.

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CITIZENSHIP CLASS

5 Credits Full Year College II Prerequisite: None

This class is designed for English as Second Language students to provide an introduction to the United States of America with an emphasis on the cultural knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed for effective democratic citizenship. The primary focus of this course is to immerse and fully integrate the students into the high school and the American community. Some of the material covered will include the following: History, including important people, places and events; government, including federal, state and local levels; Democracy, including the electoral process and offices held; stories of opportunities here in the United States as well as traditions, customs and holidays. This class will also emphasize oral and written skills.

U.S. HISTORY SKILLS I

5 Credits Full Year Unweighted

Prerequisite: Recommendation of the Special Education Team and parental approval as indicated in the Individual Educational Plan.

This full year course will teach the fundamentals of US history and trace the development of US history and culture. Included will be the development of map reading skills and knowledge of geographical and historical effects on the early development of the United States.

SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS

5 Credits Full Year Unweighted

Prerequisite: Recommendation of the Special Education Team and parental approval as indicated in the Individual Educational Plan.

This course is a full year study of social studies, world geography and culture, world history, U.S. history including map reading skills, knowledge of geographical and historical effects on countries, comparative study of various cultures, cause and effect of historical and current events. Yearly emphasis is determined by course rotation on a tri-annual basis.

GOVERNMENT SKILLS

5 Credits Full Year Unweighted

Prerequisite: Recommendation of the Special Education Team and parental approval as indicated in the Individual Educational Plan.

This course is the study of the basic principals of the American political system as reflected in our local, state, and federal government. It provides an overview of current American life and the responsibilities of citizenship.