Recently I had the opportunity to represent OCSS and network with sixty other social studies council leaders in Washington , D.C. at the NCSS Summer Leadership Conference. Each of us met with our Congressional delegation, participated in legislative briefings, wrote resolutions for the NCSS House of Delegates in November, and gained valuable information for our council.

This year's theme focused on advocacy for the Social Studies. Click here to read the NCSS Position Paper on Social Studies which counters the specious argument that social studies is content free.

After listening to a policy briefing from a representative of the federal Department of Education, we discussed Senate Bill 860, to amend the National Assessment of Education Progress Authorization Act to require State academic assessments of student achievement in United States history and civics. In part the bill states in the 2001 NAEP test, history had the largest percentage of students scoring below basic of any subject tested, including math, science, and reading.

The bill cites NAEP test results: ";95% of fourth graders could not list "two reasons why people we call 'pioneers' moved west across the US; 73% of fourth graders could not identify the Constitution as the document that contains the basic rules used to run the US government; 75% of fourth grades could not identify the three parts of the federal government; 95% of eighth graders could not give two reasons why it can be useful for a country to have a constitution; 91% of eighth graders could not list two issues important in causing the Civil War and list the Northern and Southern positions on each of these issues; and 91% of twelfth graders could not explain the most important cause of the Great Depression after reading a paragraph delineating four significant reasons.

If passed, the bill would increase the frequency of NAEP testing in history and civics. It would also require trial NAEP testing in history and civics at eighth and twelfth grades in ten states representing geographically diverse regions of the US. The bill would authorize $7 million each in fiscal years 2006 and 2007.

I also heard an excellent briefing on the need to refocus our attention on citizenship education presented by Sarah Pearson of the American Youth Policy Forum. I encourage you to read the entire report, Restoring the Balance Between Academics and Civic Engagement in Public Schools, Washington, DC: American Youth Policy Forum, 2005 (www.aypf.org) The study "notes that the recent preoccupation of the nation with reshaping academics and raising academic performance has all but overpowered a task of equally vital importance-educating our young people to become engaged members of their communities as citizens.. Since the implementation of No Child Left Behind, the amount of time teachers spend on social studies, geography, civics, and other related subjects has decreased at the elementary level while time spent on reading, mathematics, and science has increased..How can schools reverse this pattern, and provide students with an education that will allow them to become well-rounded both academically and civically?"

The American Youth Policy Forum and the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development developed seven propositions for action.

Two elements of the OCSS Strategic Plan are to (a) raise our political voice by articulating critical issues and providing a discussion forum and (b) improve education by helping students become effective citizens and know the world and strengthening social studies for elementary and ELL students. I urge you to join in the discussion of how best to advocate for the social studies both nationally and here in Oregon.

An Invitation from the World Affairs Council of Oregon
(Deadline for registration is February 3th, 2006)

What: In March of 2003 the World Affairs Council of Oregon launched an exciting, new international competition for high school students that has been a huge hit. It is a program of our K-12 Education Program and is called WorldQuest. This friendly, team competition has been hosted by many other World Affairs Councils throughout the country with great success!

Who: The competition involves 30 teams of students from schools in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Each participating school is invited to send one or two teams to show off their knowledge in the areas of culture, religion, language, landmarks, current events, history, geography, flags, and people in the news and much more! Each team is comprised of up to four students, grades 9 through 12, and may be coached by a teacher, youth leader or parent from your school. Teams compete simultaneously on paper as questions are shown on a large screen and read by am emcee.

Where & When: This competition is free and will take place on February 18, 2006 in Hoffman Hall at Portland State University between the hours of 2 and 8. This includes breaks for an ethnic meal together, a variety of cultural experiences and a chance to mingle with the other teams and PSU International students. Each team will leave with WorldQuest T-Shirts and a WAC From Awareness to Action! Packet. The winning team will receive an International Trophy to display in their school and a chance to compete in the 4th annual National WorldQuest Competition in Washington, D.C. on April 1, 2006.

Why: This exciting and fun new program is sure to add energy to the classroom, while helping to meet state standards and advance critical learning, in the areas of history, culture, international affairs, current events. and more! In addition to meeting other students from around the state with similar interests, participants will discover the "world in their backyard" at Portland State University.

How: Please mail or fax our application form RIGHT AWAY as space is limited! Deadline for registration is February 3th, 2006.
Questions: Contact Karen Ettinger, World Affairs Council K-12 Education Director. Call: 503-274-7488 Fax: 503-274-7489 E-mail: karen@worldoregon.org

Call for Applicants: 2006 James Madison Memorial Fellowship

The James Madison Fellowship Program Coordinator posted the following announcement seeking applicants for the 2006 James Madison Memorial Fellowship.

The deadline for receipt of applications for the 2006 James Madison Memorial Fellowship is March 1, 2006. The application is available on the website, www.jamesmadison.com, as is other important reference information. This generous master's degree opportunity could provide Fellows up to $24,000 per year to complete graduate studies.

The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation seeks applicants committed to a career in teaching American history, American government, or social studies at the secondary level. Visit the Foundation's website, www.jamesmadison.com, to learn more.

For More Information:
Al Frascella
301.588.1800, Ext. 113
afrascella@ncss.org

Silver Spring, Md. - Dec. 8, 2005 - The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) issued a call for applicants for the 2006-07 CiviConnections program. This is the third year of a three-year teacher grant program funded by the Federal Corporation for National and Community Service and NCSS. The program will award $7,500 grants to 33 teams consisting of three teachers each. CiviConnections links local historical inquiry with community service-learning activities nation-wide in third-12th grade classrooms.

CiviConnections Project Director, Rahima Wade, Ed. D., a Professor at the University of Iowa encourages teachers to form a team and apply. The $7,500 grant covers the team's costs for attending a summer workshop, implementing their program during the 2006/07 school year, and attending the 2006 NCSS annual conference in Washington, D.C., Dec. 1-3. Wade and Linda Levstik, Ph. D., a professor at the University of Kentucky, will co-facilitate the summer workshops. To apply, visit the CiviConnections website at http://www.civiconnections.org.

Eligibility requirements include applying as team of three teachers from grades three-12 in the same public school district; membership in NCSS or agreeing to join if selected; partnering with at least one local community agency; involving at least 25 students per teacher in at least 20 hours of service each (this may include a variety of activities such as community interviews, advocacy activities in the classroom, or service with individuals in the community); attend one three-day summer workshop and the NCSS annual conference; implement the program during the 2006/07 school year; and comply with grant evaluation and reporting procedures.

Teachers will develop and adapt these activities based on their students' interests and abilities, the needs or problems in the local community, and their local social studies curriculum requirements.

CiviConnections projects during the 2006/07 school year will focus on one of the following four issue areas: Poverty - Projects might address hunger, homelessness, low-income jobs, unemployment or other challenges associated with living in poverty; Health Care - This is a broad category that encompasses many important issues in community life; Discrimination - The future of our democracy depends on affirming our multicultural society; and Environment - Many environmental problems plague our communities.

From the 2003/04 school year to the end of the 2006/07, about 300 teachers and 7,500 students will have participated in CiviConnections.

Founded in 1921, the National Council for the Social Studies has grown into the largest association in the country for social studies professionals, with about 26,000 members in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 69 foreign countries. Membership includes K-16 classroom teachers, curriculum supervisors and specialists, curriculum writers and designers, and teacher educators. The NCSS serves as an umbrella organization for K-16 teachers of civics, history, geography, economics, political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and law-related education. Social studies is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence. Visit the NCSS web site at http://www.socialstudies.org.