History
8th Grade HISTORY- Missy Shea
A broad, thematically-based introduction to American history centered on the concept of inalienable rights. Units will spiral through important historic events and will include study of early settlers and the creation of the nation, native Americans women in American history, African Americans, and immigrants. This course is designed to prepare students for subsequent Civics and U.S. History classes. All eighth graders take this class and it does not count towards any of the GMVS High School graduation requirements.
CIVICS (9th Grade)- Alice Rogers
This course is designed for underclassmen to deepen their understanding of the American system of government. The goal of this course is to foster civic responsibility by examining the operation of the United States government and the role of the citizen. Through frequent reading and writing assignments and discussion of current events, students cultivate their skills of critical analysis and begin to assess the complex issues facing our nation today.
EUROPEAN HISTORY (10th Grade) Alice Rogers
European History traces modern Western civilization from the Middle Ages through the Russian revolution. Students formulate ideas about government and society as they begin to take on modern forms. The first semester examines the critical changes that swept across Europe during the six centuries that encompass the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Age of Religious Reformation. The second semester examines the age of upheaval from the 17th to 20th century as European society wrestled with liberalism, nationalism, conservatism, socialism and industrialism. Primary source readings and frequent writing and research assignments are used to deepen students' understanding of these topics.
U.S. HISTORY (11th Grade)
The Survey course of United States History will be an examination of the major events, themes and concepts in the history of our nation from the Colonial era to the present day. Original documents, films, music, novels and other supplemental sources will be used in addition to the text, Making America: A History of the United States. Emphasis will be placed on the development of critical thinking, reading and writing skills.
THE ANCIENT GREEKS (12th grade ½ year)
Our ideas of beauty in literature and art have grown out of the achievements of the ancient Greek civilization. Through the writings of Greek historians, philosophers and playwrights, students examine the contributions of the ancient Greeks to our contemporary world.
PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS (12th grade and juniors by permission from the Academic Director and course instructor)
This course introduces the student to basic economic models. Students will examine the social science from the perspective of an economist using economics as a reasoning tool, and organization of society. Topics include economic history, supply and demand, basic micro and macroeconomic theory, as well as an introduction to domestic and global economic policy.
A HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY GENOCIDE (12th grade ½ year)
This course will explore the dynamics of human conflict and the recurrence of genocide in the modern world. We will also examine “just warfare” and attempt to define the terms war, terrorism and genocide. We will focus on four contemporary conflicts: the Khmer Rouge’s reign in Cambodia, the Hutu-Tutsi conflict and genocide in Rwanda, civil war and ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and the current events in Darfur, Sudan. We will also study UN structure, policy and reaction and examine the idea of international law and genocide as a punishable crime (and the history of international and genocide law) and the role played by the international community in each case.