Alameda County Promotes the Study of
History

"If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything.
You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree."
Michael Crichton

The study of history and the social sciences is an essential part of a comprehensive education, advancing skills that are critical to life in an increasingly complex society. Studying history engages students, helps them define their identities, and comprises superb content for developing students' thinking and literacy skills. The history class is perhaps the central venue for young people's civic education. Yet in many places these classes have become classified as being of secondary importance or even optional.

A recent Alameda County Board of Education Resolution for African-American History Month was passed to address this need. The Resolution read, in part, "…it is important that the history curriculum in our schools, at every grade level, reflects the experiences of men and women of different racial, religious and ethnic groups so that each student has an opportunity to understand the common humanity underlying groups; develop pride in his or her own heritage; and to understand, respect and accept the identity and heritage of others." Passed and adopted on January 9, 2007.

Opportunities for professional development in the field have become scarce. The History-Social Science programs in the Educational Services office at ACOE provide teachers with high-quality training in history teaching. Through contact with history academics and with teacher colleagues, participants in these programs expand their knowledge and understanding of history and develop the capacity to engage their students in more meaningful and enriching study of the discipline. Many become leaders at their sites, in their districts and beyond. These programs are beginning to accomplish their promise to create a cadre of teacher-leaders with the training and skills to support their colleagues throughout the county in efforts to be better history-social science teachers.

Avi Black, ACOE History-Social Science coordinator, conducts this high-quality

training for teachers throughout Alameda County. The response from teachers has been both overwhelming and encouraging. The demand for more training of this nature is great and it is our goal to meet the demand with excellent professional development. For more information about this program, please contact Avi Black directly at ablack@acoe.org.