DCPS Social Studies Curriculum Concerns

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a DCPS kid in high school who was passionate about reading, writing, and history. But she's saying now she wants to go into the hard sciences because there is less of a prescribed agenda. Every English or Social Studies paper is about "identity" and needs to written in from an oppressor/victim POV to receive a high grade. The kids roll their eyes a bit, but they play the game. It just isn't intellectually fulfilling.

I recommend supplementing with different material and perspectives at home. That's helped us a bit.

This could be a troll but there is a kernel of truth here. My kid is younger I heard something similar from my nephew recently (not in DCPS) about the way they are taught to write in high school. I haaaaate saying this because I think the whining about CRT is overblown, but it does sound like there is so much focus on politically correct thinking that it undermines some basic education. And it backfires too, because the kids don't actually adopt the "correct" viewpoints they are spoon-fed. They get annoyed with how rigid it all is and roll their eyes at it, but have much more nuanced opinions on it all that they simply don't express to adults. Which is actually troubling. They are learning to play a game to parrot certain talking points but then not really engaging with teachers or parents on these issues.

None of this is about CRT. No kid is learning CRT in K-12. Basically, CRT is a methodology used in law school. Yes, people use the term in layman's terms, but it's incorrect. Also, my kid, who is educated in what you call "politically correct thinking," which I just call education, does not roll his eyes at this education. If your kid is rolling their eyes at education that encourages them to think in a socially justice minded way, then maybe you need to do something about that and not blame teaching kids about socially important topics.

Your talking-point deflection is an absurd straw man: no one -- no one -- argues that DCPS is teaching middle schoolers Critical Race Theory. But those who created the DCPS' curriculum sure drank the CRT cool-aide. CGT, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a DCPS kid in high school who was passionate about reading, writing, and history. But she's saying now she wants to go into the hard sciences because there is less of a prescribed agenda. Every English or Social Studies paper is about "identity" and needs to written in from an oppressor/victim POV to receive a high grade. The kids roll their eyes a bit, but they play the game. It just isn't intellectually fulfilling.

I recommend supplementing with different material and perspectives at home. That's helped us a bit.

+1. We did a lot of supplementing to. It sort of became a running joke at our dinner table. I mean every single book they read is about racism or identity. It’s completely out of whack.

What supplementing?

We supplement with the actual truth about US history. Which is, despite its warts and all the US is the greatest country that’s ever existed and has brought freedom to billions around the world.

What does that entail?

Freedom to go without basic human needs because capitalism good and socialism evil.

Sounds like you were educated by DCPS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach SS in neighboring MoCo. MCPS MS SS curriculum in 2023-24 is essentially the same curriculum I got in Archdiocese of Baltimore MS in 1983-84. Ancient civilizations in 6th. Middle Ages and Renaissance in 7th. And US History I in 8th. My Catholic MS taught much more geography, but MCPS does a better job of including Africa and Latin America in 6th and 7th and a much better job of discussing the African American experience in 8th.

MCPS is also especially good with social studies for kids who need enrichmet--there is a class that covers this and adds additional novels and projects so kids can go deeper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a DCPS kid in high school who was passionate about reading, writing, and history. But she's saying now she wants to go into the hard sciences because there is less of a prescribed agenda. Every English or Social Studies paper is about "identity" and needs to written in from an oppressor/victim POV to receive a high grade. The kids roll their eyes a bit, but they play the game. It just isn't intellectually fulfilling.

I recommend supplementing with different material and perspectives at home. That's helped us a bit.

This could be a troll but there is a kernel of truth here. My kid is younger I heard something similar from my nephew recently (not in DCPS) about the way they are taught to write in high school. I haaaaate saying this because I think the whining about CRT is overblown, but it does sound like there is so much focus on politically correct thinking that it undermines some basic education. And it backfires too, because the kids don't actually adopt the "correct" viewpoints they are spoon-fed. They get annoyed with how rigid it all is and roll their eyes at it, but have much more nuanced opinions on it all that they simply don't express to adults. Which is actually troubling. They are learning to play a game to parrot certain talking points but then not really engaging with teachers or parents on these issues.

Kernel of truth? It’s more like a supersized bucket of movie theater popcorn sized truth. Look at the summer reading list for Deal. It’s like they tore off the recommended reading list from a college gender/ethnic studies course and repackaged it like the Harvard president would.

I have to agree: it was pretty shocking. There is so much more to the universe than "identity" and the American CRM; this obsessive focus seems provincial and frankly bush league, not to mention completely unhelpful with respect to preparing the kids to be productive, successful citizens in a competitive world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 6th grader in a DCPS middle school who knows about all of the things you referenced. Some from school, some from reading, some from family/friends conversations… not sure this is a DCPS problem so much as anecdotal evidence that you need to pay more attention to your kid and their activities?

+1
My now-sixth grader covered Columbus/Native American tribes, colonial America, the American Revolution, slavery and the Civil War, Westward Expansion, and immigration. Also discussed WWI and WWII. Didn't get to the Cold War, but I don't think I did either until HS.

This is all 4th grade content so if a DCPS student is arriving at middle school claiming they don't know anything about this, they were either completely checked out, don't remember or don't care. I can speak to 4th grade since I teach it and both the Early America and Rev./Ind. ELA units have significant writing assignments associated with them. The entire year of SS is dedicated to Early America and those ELA units tie it together with the SS content. And all of it feeds to 4th grade just like PP above pointed out. If a kid isn't getting this in elementary school, the school has completely sidelined the standard curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 6th grader in a DCPS middle school who knows about all of the things you referenced. Some from school, some from reading, some from family/friends conversations… not sure this is a DCPS problem so much as anecdotal evidence that you need to pay more attention to your kid and their activities?

+1
My now-sixth grader covered Columbus/Native American tribes, colonial America, the American Revolution, slavery and the Civil War, Westward Expansion, and immigration. Also discussed WWI and WWII. Didn't get to the Cold War, but I don't think I did either until HS.

This is all 4th grade content so if a DCPS student is arriving at middle school claiming they don't know anything about this, they were either completely checked out, don't remember or don't care. I can speak to 4th grade since I teach it and both the Early America and Rev./Ind. ELA units have significant writing assignments associated with them. The entire year of SS is dedicated to Early America and those ELA units tie it together with the SS content. And all of it feeds to 4th grade just like PP above pointed out. If a kid isn't getting this in elementary school, the school has completely sidelined the standard curriculum.

*Feeds to 5th grade*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ES teacher. Placing names on maps is fun for many kids, just some people see it as rote learning and too simple. Why are they learning that when I can look it up is also a comment I hear often.

Oh good, curriculum is being dictated by poorly educated parents.

I am so tired of parents thinking school is about doing stuff that "sounds" impressive. Of course some of school is rote learning if simple concepts like world geography! They are children and come into the world knowing nothing. Oh and by the way, it took humanity thousands of years to figure out the world was round and rotated around the sun, so maybe these ideas are not as simple and basic as you think.

We will end up with ignorant high school graduates because of my our own ignorance and lack of perspective and context. Great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a DCPS kid in high school who was passionate about reading, writing, and history. But she's saying now she wants to go into the hard sciences because there is less of a prescribed agenda. Every English or Social Studies paper is about "identity" and needs to written in from an oppressor/victim POV to receive a high grade. The kids roll their eyes a bit, but they play the game. It just isn't intellectually fulfilling.

I recommend supplementing with different material and perspectives at home. That's helped us a bit.

This could be a troll but there is a kernel of truth here. My kid is younger I heard something similar from my nephew recently (not in DCPS) about the way they are taught to write in high school. I haaaaate saying this because I think the whining about CRT is overblown, but it does sound like there is so much focus on politically correct thinking that it undermines some basic education. And it backfires too, because the kids don't actually adopt the "correct" viewpoints they are spoon-fed. They get annoyed with how rigid it all is and roll their eyes at it, but have much more nuanced opinions on it all that they simply don't express to adults. Which is actually troubling. They are learning to play a game to parrot certain talking points but then not really engaging with teachers or parents on these issues.

None of this is about CRT. No kid is learning CRT in K-12. Basically, CRT is a methodology used in law school. Yes, people use the term in layman's terms, but it's incorrect. Also, my kid, who is educated in what you call "politically correct thinking," which I just call education, does not roll his eyes at this education. If your kid is rolling their eyes at education that encourages them to think in a socially justice minded way, then maybe you need to do something about that and not blame teaching kids about socially important topics.

Your talking-point deflection is an absurd straw man: no one -- no one -- argues that DCPS is teaching middle schoolers Critical Race Theory. But those who created the DCPS' curriculum sure drank the CRT cool-aide. CGT, too.

+1. There are several reasons why the military cannot reach our recruitment goals. One big one is that where we once taught civics and patriotism, but instead today most kids graduate public high schools with a distaste for this country. It’s no reason they don’t want to defend it. Having sat through the last few 8th grade Deal promotion ceremonies it’s pretty shocking and sad how much many of these kids HATE the United States.

[Anonymous]

If you want your kid to learn history hete are things that have worked for my kids:

Elementary school
We read and listened out loud to the 4 book series: Story of the World.
https://www.amazon.com/Story-World-History-Classical-Earliest/dp/1933339004/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=story+of+the+world&qid=1705942102&sr=8-1

Some chapters we skipped and some we supplemented a lot by going to museums, watching YouTube videos, and/or watching movies and reading books from that time period. So when we were in the 4th volume that covers Stalin I had my kids read “Breaking Stalin’s nose” which does a great job of showing the terror if Stalin’s regime from a child’s perspective. In high school when my kid had to read 1984 he understood the context of what was happening in the world when it was written and totally remembered reading this book.

In middle school we watched series about history like the Story of Mankind; Story of US; and other history channel shows.

I also had my kids watch the miniseries the Bible even though we aren’t religious. It was I think 5 episodes and explains the basics of Christianity which everyone should know about to understand history and a lot of literature and current events. https://www.history.com/shows/the-bible

Description of story of the world:
The first book I wouldn’t say is 100% secular and has a Judeo-Christian slant but it really covers the ancient world. There is a workbook, activities like how to embalm a chicken when you read about ancient history, and maps to fill in.


The first book covers:
history of the world from 7000 BCE- 476 CE.
Volume One: Ancient Times: from the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor (revised edition, 2007) This first volume brings to life the ancient civilizations of Sumer, China, Egypt, Mohenjo-Daro, Greece, Persia, Rome, and more. Includes the author’s retelling of the great myths and religions of each culture. Maps, timelines, and illustrations provide context and detail.

Volume Two: The Middle Ages: from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance (revised edition, 2007) Knights and castles; the Maya and the Aztecs; the rise of Islam and the Crusades; Joan of Arc, Mansa Musa, Galileo, Martin Luther, and Magellan. This volume is jam-packed with unforgettable characters and stories. Includes illustrations, maps, timelines, and a pronunciation guide.

Volume Three: Early Modern Times: from Elizabeth the First to the Forty-Niners Clearly and grippingly narrates the exploration and colonization of the Americas, including the Native American response to the newcomers; the Scientific Revolution in Europe; the birth and expansion of the United States, slavery and the efforts to end it; and much more. Includes maps and illustrations.

Volume Four: The Modern Age: from Victoria’s Empire to the End of the USSR The final volume helps readers understand the American Civil War, the rapid growth of technologies such as the railroad and electricity; new movements for freedom in Africa and Asia; the Space Race; the Cold War and its conclusion, and people as varied as Gandhi, Hitler, Evita Peron, and Martin Luther King. Includes maps and illustrations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ES teacher. Placing names on maps is fun for many kids, just some people see it as rote learning and too simple. Why are they learning that when I can look it up is also a comment I hear often.

Oh good, curriculum is being dictated by poorly educated parents.

I am so tired of parents thinking school is about doing stuff that "sounds" impressive. Of course some of school is rote learning if simple concepts like world geography! They are children and come into the world knowing nothing. Oh and by the way, it took humanity thousands of years to figure out the world was round and rotated around the sun, so maybe these ideas are not as simple and basic as you think.

We will end up with ignorant high school graduates because of my our own ignorance and lack of perspective and context. Great.

100 on doing thing that are impressive.

So many parents constantly tell me about their kids doing physics in 4th grade (they are doing a science class that is showing physic principles) or that they can read Shakespeare in 5th grade - age appropriate learning.

My kid is getting great social studies and critical thinking skills. He's learning about primary sources; how to look up information; etc. It's a lot different way of teaching than I was learn and I will take it.

The sausage making is boring but the end result is what we want. This is also how laws are made and in a policy town I expect the parents to know better. But please keep telling me how great your kid did on their comps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want your kid to learn history hete are things that have worked for my kids:

Elementary school
We read and listened out loud to the 4 book series: Story of the World.
https://www.amazon.com/Story-World-History-Classical-Earliest/dp/1933339004/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=story+of+the+world&qid=1705942102&sr=8-1

Some chapters we skipped and some we supplemented a lot by going to museums, watching YouTube videos, and/or watching movies and reading books from that time period. So when we were in the 4th volume that covers Stalin I had my kids read “Breaking Stalin’s nose” which does a great job of showing the terror if Stalin’s regime from a child’s perspective. In high school when my kid had to read 1984 he understood the context of what was happening in the world when it was written and totally remembered reading this book.

In middle school we watched series about history like the Story of Mankind; Story of US; and other history channel shows.

I also had my kids watch the miniseries the Bible even though we aren’t religious. It was I think 5 episodes and explains the basics of Christianity which everyone should know about to understand history and a lot of literature and current events. https://www.history.com/shows/the-bible

Description of story of the world:
The first book I wouldn’t say is 100% secular and has a Judeo-Christian slant but it really covers the ancient world. There is a workbook, activities like how to embalm a chicken when you read about ancient history, and maps to fill in.


The first book covers:
history of the world from 7000 BCE- 476 CE.
Volume One: Ancient Times: from the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor (revised edition, 2007) This first volume brings to life the ancient civilizations of Sumer, China, Egypt, Mohenjo-Daro, Greece, Persia, Rome, and more. Includes the author’s retelling of the great myths and religions of each culture. Maps, timelines, and illustrations provide context and detail.

Volume Two: The Middle Ages: from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance (revised edition, 2007) Knights and castles; the Maya and the Aztecs; the rise of Islam and the Crusades; Joan of Arc, Mansa Musa, Galileo, Martin Luther, and Magellan. This volume is jam-packed with unforgettable characters and stories. Includes illustrations, maps, timelines, and a pronunciation guide.

Volume Three: Early Modern Times: from Elizabeth the First to the Forty-Niners Clearly and grippingly narrates the exploration and colonization of the Americas, including the Native American response to the newcomers; the Scientific Revolution in Europe; the birth and expansion of the United States, slavery and the efforts to end it; and much more. Includes maps and illustrations.

Volume Four: The Modern Age: from Victoria’s Empire to the End of the USSR The final volume helps readers understand the American Civil War, the rapid growth of technologies such as the railroad and electricity; new movements for freedom in Africa and Asia; the Space Race; the Cold War and its conclusion, and people as varied as Gandhi, Hitler, Evita Peron, and Martin Luther King. Includes maps and illustrations.

+1000 on SOTW. Also check out the Early Times, Middle Ages, and US History books from Pandia Press.

[Anonymous]

Look, teaching your kid that this country’s ideals and outcomes for most of its residents have been in tension for 400 years is not shocking or even that hard for 4th graders.

I have seen cartoons explain why Black people sided with AND against the American Revolution, based on real life concerns.

Is it hating the USA to explain why tribes fought its expansion?

The Civil War was fought against slavery but Northerners could still be racist. Not impossible to explain.

World War II led us to choose to side with Stalin against Germany. Then fight communism for 50 years. How would you explain that?

The war in Vietnam or the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - would you explain them as defeats or use the crutch of domestic opposition?

How would you explain the history of cities like D.C., Baltimore, Detroit, L.A., NYC over the past 75 years? Or why suburbs exist?

You won’t be able to teach U.S. history without some shades of gray. It’s valuable to leave kids with a sense of the values that Americans are trying to achieve in these various cases. But don’t go absolving the U.S. at every turn. We’re better than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want your kid to learn history hete are things that have worked for my kids:

Elementary school
We read and listened out loud to the 4 book series: Story of the World.
https://www.amazon.com/Story-World-History-Classical-Earliest/dp/1933339004/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=story+of+the+world&qid=1705942102&sr=8-1

Some chapters we skipped and some we supplemented a lot by going to museums, watching YouTube videos, and/or watching movies and reading books from that time period. So when we were in the 4th volume that covers Stalin I had my kids read “Breaking Stalin’s nose” which does a great job of showing the terror if Stalin’s regime from a child’s perspective. In high school when my kid had to read 1984 he understood the context of what was happening in the world when it was written and totally remembered reading this book.

In middle school we watched series about history like the Story of Mankind; Story of US; and other history channel shows.

I also had my kids watch the miniseries the Bible even though we aren’t religious. It was I think 5 episodes and explains the basics of Christianity which everyone should know about to understand history and a lot of literature and current events. https://www.history.com/shows/the-bible

Description of story of the world:
The first book I wouldn’t say is 100% secular and has a Judeo-Christian slant but it really covers the ancient world. There is a workbook, activities like how to embalm a chicken when you read about ancient history, and maps to fill in.


The first book covers:
history of the world from 7000 BCE- 476 CE.
Volume One: Ancient Times: from the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor (revised edition, 2007) This first volume brings to life the ancient civilizations of Sumer, China, Egypt, Mohenjo-Daro, Greece, Persia, Rome, and more. Includes the author’s retelling of the great myths and religions of each culture. Maps, timelines, and illustrations provide context and detail.

Volume Two: The Middle Ages: from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance (revised edition, 2007) Knights and castles; the Maya and the Aztecs; the rise of Islam and the Crusades; Joan of Arc, Mansa Musa, Galileo, Martin Luther, and Magellan. This volume is jam-packed with unforgettable characters and stories. Includes illustrations, maps, timelines, and a pronunciation guide.

Volume Three: Early Modern Times: from Elizabeth the First to the Forty-Niners Clearly and grippingly narrates the exploration and colonization of the Americas, including the Native American response to the newcomers; the Scientific Revolution in Europe; the birth and expansion of the United States, slavery and the efforts to end it; and much more. Includes maps and illustrations.

Volume Four: The Modern Age: from Victoria’s Empire to the End of the USSR The final volume helps readers understand the American Civil War, the rapid growth of technologies such as the railroad and electricity; new movements for freedom in Africa and Asia; the Space Race; the Cold War and its conclusion, and people as varied as Gandhi, Hitler, Evita Peron, and Martin Luther King. Includes maps and illustrations.

+1000 on SOTW. Also check out the Early Times, Middle Ages, and US History books from Pandia Press.

It doesn't take long to do. We bought the audiobooks of Story of the World (SOTW) and listened to them on car rides for example to and from soccer practice or other trips that would take at least 15 minutes. It at least familiarizes kids history and when (and if) they learn about the same topic later it helps to have some kind of background knowledge. It also helps on reading comprehension tests because a passage might be on something like the intercontinental railways or silkworm in China or Musa Mali and having some background knowledge makes answering comprehension questions so much easier.

Having some background also makes understanding what is going on in the world easier and helps students have some critical thinking skills. My son was in a class where the teacher said something about African never invading Europe and my son brought up the Moors crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and were in Spain for 700 years, so how does that not count. The teacher had never heard of it. My son then realized to be skeptical of any generalities the teacher said from then on and to verify before believing everything you hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want your kid to learn history hete are things that have worked for my kids:

Elementary school
We read and listened out loud to the 4 book series: Story of the World.
https://www.amazon.com/Story-World-History-Classical-Earliest/dp/1933339004/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=story+of+the+world&qid=1705942102&sr=8-1

Some chapters we skipped and some we supplemented a lot by going to museums, watching YouTube videos, and/or watching movies and reading books from that time period. So when we were in the 4th volume that covers Stalin I had my kids read “Breaking Stalin’s nose” which does a great job of showing the terror if Stalin’s regime from a child’s perspective. In high school when my kid had to read 1984 he understood the context of what was happening in the world when it was written and totally remembered reading this book.

In middle school we watched series about history like the Story of Mankind; Story of US; and other history channel shows.

I also had my kids watch the miniseries the Bible even though we aren’t religious. It was I think 5 episodes and explains the basics of Christianity which everyone should know about to understand history and a lot of literature and current events. https://www.history.com/shows/the-bible

Description of story of the world:
The first book I wouldn’t say is 100% secular and has a Judeo-Christian slant but it really covers the ancient world. There is a workbook, activities like how to embalm a chicken when you read about ancient history, and maps to fill in.


The first book covers:
history of the world from 7000 BCE- 476 CE.
Volume One: Ancient Times: from the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor (revised edition, 2007) This first volume brings to life the ancient civilizations of Sumer, China, Egypt, Mohenjo-Daro, Greece, Persia, Rome, and more. Includes the author’s retelling of the great myths and religions of each culture. Maps, timelines, and illustrations provide context and detail.

Volume Two: The Middle Ages: from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance (revised edition, 2007) Knights and castles; the Maya and the Aztecs; the rise of Islam and the Crusades; Joan of Arc, Mansa Musa, Galileo, Martin Luther, and Magellan. This volume is jam-packed with unforgettable characters and stories. Includes illustrations, maps, timelines, and a pronunciation guide.

Volume Three: Early Modern Times: from Elizabeth the First to the Forty-Niners Clearly and grippingly narrates the exploration and colonization of the Americas, including the Native American response to the newcomers; the Scientific Revolution in Europe; the birth and expansion of the United States, slavery and the efforts to end it; and much more. Includes maps and illustrations.

Volume Four: The Modern Age: from Victoria’s Empire to the End of the USSR The final volume helps readers understand the American Civil War, the rapid growth of technologies such as the railroad and electricity; new movements for freedom in Africa and Asia; the Space Race; the Cold War and its conclusion, and people as varied as Gandhi, Hitler, Evita Peron, and Martin Luther King. Includes maps and illustrations.

+1000 on SOTW. Also check out the Early Times, Middle Ages, and US History books from Pandia Press.

It doesn't take long to do. We bought the audiobooks of Story of the World (SOTW) and listened to them on car rides for example to and from soccer practice or other trips that would take at least 15 minutes. It at least familiarizes kids history and when (and if) they learn about the same topic later it helps to have some kind of background knowledge. It also helps on reading comprehension tests because a passage might be on something like the intercontinental railways or silkworm in China or Musa Mali and having some background knowledge makes answering comprehension questions so much easier.

Having some background also makes understanding what is going on in the world easier and helps students have some critical thinking skills. My son was in a class where the teacher said something about African never invading Europe and my son brought up the Moors crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and were in Spain for 700 years, so how does that not count. The teacher had never heard of it. My son then realized to be skeptical of any generalities the teacher said from then on and to verify before believing everything you hear.

All of this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know OP. My 6th grader has zero knowledge of how big the US is or where it is in relation to other countries. He was shocked that it takes less time to fly to the Dominican Republic than San Francisco. I said, “Look at the map - California is much further away.” He said “We learned in Social Studies that maps are bad because they make Africa look small.” 🤡

I'm sorry, did you expect us to believe this? What a dim view of educators you must have, to think that parents would believe such clearly fabricated nonsense.

this is what he told me! if your DCPS child had lessons in basic geography - identifying states and countries on a map - let us know.

6th grade at Deal last year and there was a lot of emphasis on maps and geography. He was better at identifying countries in Africa and Eastern Europe than I was. They covered maps of the whole world by continent and the US by state.

We all know that Deal is the only functioning middle school in DCPS, so it's not really representative of the rest of DCPS as all. Of course DCUM wouldn't know this because all of DCUM resides within the Deal boundary.

My 7th grader is at Jefferson and does all of the items that were listed at being taught at Deal. In 6th grade did geography, maps, state capitols, etc. In 7th is doing ancient civilizations, beginning with hunter gatherers and is now learning about Hinduism. They have researched debates every Friday where students cite evidence on their topic. They did a research paper comparing and contrasting female rulers of different civilizations. To say that Deal is the only MS doing this work is incorrect.

And in our IB ES, we did westward expansion, origin of the US, the American Revolution, some civics (how a bill becomes a law, etc) and native tribes in various locations of North America.