Curriculum Committee Minutes : (10/11/06)

 

  • Attendance: J. Lewis, J. Desmaris, Tosi, J. Coleman
  • Checklist for Elective Course Proposals

 

    • Discuss elective course proposal with your department chair
      • Consider length and number of credits
      • Consider the prereq’s
      • Consider additional resources needed
        • Department: texts and other materials
        • Library
      • Consider impact on current course offerings; will elective have to displace a current course offering?
      • Justification or rationale for offering course:
        • Meeting critical need in curriculum (state standards)
        • Fits with school improvement (design team) goals
    • Write course proposal
    • Have at least 10 students committed to taking the class if offered
    • Await approval by school curriculum committee
    • Submit proposal to principals for approval
    • Await approval by school board

 

  • Civics in the History/Social Sciences Department

 

    • Three options to incorporate Civics into the curriculum
      • 1.  Incorporate into US History and other existing electives
      • 2.  Replace existing Freshman class as Civics
      • 3.  Modify the Public Issues class and Sociology to incorporate Civics
    • Jerry Desmaris supports and the committee supports option 1

 

  • World History I in the History/Social Sciences Department

 

    • Currently classes can be taken in any order
    • If students fail freshman history, they can move onto next class
    • Ongoing discussion within the department about passing World History I in order to take any other class within the department
    • Discussion with the Freshman Academy
    • Curriculum committee and Jerry supports the idea of making World History I as a pre-req for all other history classes

 

  • AP US History/11-H English combined class
    • 1 block, year-long, 2 credits total
    • Students must take both courses
    • 2 sections scheduled for same block
    • One section has History 1st day and English 2nd day; other section reversed
    • Won’t change facilities
    • Remove US History – Honors
    • Curriculum Committee along with Desmaris and Tosi support

 

  • Next Meeting Tuesday, November 21st from 9:30 to 11 AM in room 114

 

  • Topics for discussion:
    • Input from Tech Program concerning electives and sending schools
    • Update on the Boston Museum of Science Curriculum