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SCSSA Southern California Social Science Association |
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Given by JOEL ROTHBLATT on May 26, 2009 I am honored and humbled to become President of the Southern California Social Science Association, the largest professional organization for social science teachers in Greater Los Angeles. I would to thank a number of people for making this moment possible. I would like to thank Jonathan Friedlander for reserving this magnificent room at the UCLA Faculty Center. I would like to thank my wonderful and very supportive wife, Julie for her patience and for encouraging me to pursue my professional passions as a social studies teacher. I would also like to thank my wonderful and supportive children, Max, Wyn, and Dasha Flor, for understanding that sometimes Daddy is not around because he is at a conference and/or working with the SCSSA or attending other meetings. I also would like to thank my friends and colleagues for being here and showing their support for the SCSSA. Four score and 17 years ago, a group of social studies teachers met in Los Angeles and decided to form a professional organization to support the teaching of the social studies. These founders of the SCSSA wanted to promote social studies in a variety of ways including coordinating programs, publishing articles about social studies, and integrating the efforts of all who share similar purposes. And now, nearly 100 years later, the Southern California Social Science Association still has the same focus and goals, and the challenges of teaching social studies continue…. As history shows us, dismal economic conditions – such as the ones we’re suffering through now – are often are interconnected with social problems. How can we help keep our students informed of the issues facing us today, issues that will likely confront us in the future? How can we instill in our youth -- the future voters and leaders of our country -- the knowledge of history and social studies in the broad sense, including critical reasoning skills and civics to help avoid some of the pitfalls of the past? How can we possibly do these things without a strong social studies curriculum in our schools? And yet, there is no social studies examination requirement in order to graduate from high school in the State of California. And, to make matters worse, our social studies budget is continually being cut in public education, and cut disproportionately compared to other subjects such as English and Math. One thing is for certain: few things can grow in a land devoid of social studies education. The only things that can take root in a land parched with apathy and ignorance are the weeds of intolerance and demagoguery. To help stave off this scenario, I want to share with you seven goals that I have for the SCSSA during my 12-month presidency. The management guru, Stephen Covey might call them: “The 7 Goals for a Highly Effective SCSSA”. All of these are low-cost (or no cost) ways to help strengthen the SCSSA, make it a more effective promoter of social studies education in Greater Los Angeles, and provide more benefits for its members. One of my goals is for us to create a legislative/political action group or committee in the SCSSA whose job it will be to monitor events in Sacramento, inform our members about issues that effect social studies instruction, and initiate public awareness campaigns which could include contacting our representatives, letter writing, email campaigns, etc. It would exemplify real social studies in action focused on democracy and civics. A second goal is for the SCSSA to help coordinate a “Best Practices” group of social studies teachers to meet at each other’s school sites and at other locations to share “best practices” and report back to the SCSSA organization about what was shared and learned. Ultimately our students will benefit from our sharing since we’ll be continually prepared with rejuvenated lesson plans and innovative teaching strategies. Goal three is for the SCSSA to offer more local opportunities for Professional Development for our members. Not just about subject matter that we directly teach in our classrooms, but also about social studies-related topics to keep our members informed about current issues and events. The SCSSA can draw more upon local university experts, such as those at UCLA and USC, and partner with other like-minded and complementary organizations and associations to keep our members abreast on current events. We need to stay informed to keep our students informed. Goal four is that, for each Professional Development opportunity that the SCSSA offers, that it provide verification of attendance for PD hour credit to all SCSSA members who attend. These PD hour credits can be translated into salary points for our members in the LAUSD, as well as for those who work in the other school districts we serve in the Greater Los Angeles area. A fifth goal is for these meetings and PD opportunities – as well as opportunities for grants and other sources of funding for social studies teachers -- to be promoted using the list-serves with the email addresses of SCSSA members, as well as by using the SCSSA website that Amanda Roraback has worked so tirelessly creating, maintaining, and updating. This will provide our members with another important benefit of joining the SCSSA: staying informed of these meetings and opportunities In addition, I see a great need to attract more social studies teachers to join the SCSSA to participate in, and benefit from our newly invigorated organization. Therefore, a sixth goal is for the SCSSA to implement an effective “Lead Contact” program throughout the areas served by the SCSSA. We’re looking for one social studies teacher at each school site to volunteer to become the “Lead Contact” teacher for that school site. That “Lead Contact” teacher would agree to become the conduit between the SCSSA and his or her school. The SCSSA would contact each “Lead Contact” via email about upcoming events or issues and that teacher would disseminate the information to all of the social studies teachers at his or her school. The “Lead Contact” teacher would also be responsible for reporting directly to the SCSSA about any issues, concerns or suggestions from her or his school. Part and parcel of having a successful “Lead Contact” program is my seventh goal: the initial outreach to all of the schools and pre-service (teacher training) programs in the areas served by the SCSSA to inform them about the SCSSA and its benefits, and to help grow our membership. It is also critical for us to recruit and have active participation from elementary school teachers, who – due to a perceived lack of time and materials – have often felt forced to neglect the important role of social studies in their curriculum. These are some of the main goals that I have this year as new president of the SCSSA…. To paraphrase Dr. Martin Luther King, in his “I have a Dream” speech: I am not unmindful that many of you have traveled great distances to attend this awards banquet this evening. You have traversed the freeways and side streets of our magnificent city, and have you have endured the stress of traveling in rush hour to support us here tonight. I am eternally grateful to all of you for doing that. Go back to your homes in the southside and the eastside. Go back to your houses in the valley. Go back to your apartments in the Westside. Go back to your schools throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. Go back knowing that together with your assistance, the SCSSA will be implementing new programs to make social studies education stronger and more relevant to our students. And to echo John F. Kennedy’s famous request: as you reflect upon this evening and our organization, I want you to “ask not what the SCSSA can do for you” -- “ask what you can do for the SCSSA”. Please join us at our next executive board meeting which will take place on Saturday morning, June 6 at the Social Studies School Service in Culver City. The details -- including the address of where the meeting will be held -- are on the back of this evening’s program. Thank you very much for being a part of this.
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All Rights Reserved Copyright 2007. SCSSA (Southern California Social Sciences Association) |
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