Keep European History Sequence, Watchung Hills Teachers Request

If it's working, then think again before changing it. That was the message of some history teachers at Watchung Hills Regional High School spoke up on Monday night to say that they and hundreds of students and graduates believe the school's current sequence of offering European History to sophomores before U.S. History has been successful — and is time tested.

At Monday's school board meeting, the teachers said the European history course, this year being taken by more sophomores as either a college prep, accelerated or an Advanced Placement class, lays the groundwork for U.S. History I and II classes that Watchung Hills students sign up for as juniors and seniors.

School Superintendent Elizabeth Jewett later said the plan is not to eliminate European history, but to move the sequencing of U.S. History I and II, both required by the state, to students' sophomore and junior years. Nearly all high schools in the state follow that schedule, she said.

Starting next fall, students then could take European history as an elective as sophomores, juniors or seniors, as well as choosing alternative history electives, such as government and politics, or Advanced Placement economics, Jewett said.

The change is not yet approved, and next is scheduled to be discussed by the Board of Education's curriculum subcommittee on Dec. 2.

The superintendent said it would be an advantage for students to have both required history classes completed on their transcripts by the time they are applying for college in senior year.

But the teachers said the sequence was set up decades ago for a reason — partially because colleges had complained that the high school's history offerings weren't rigorous enough, and to discourage students from choosing a study hall instead during their senior year.

Watchung Hills history teacher Gregory Binovkow was one of four longtime history teachers from the high school to say that students, alumni and the colleges that accept WHRHS students have spoken in support of the current sequence, which provides the perspective of the freshman world cultures class, followed by European history, prior to taking the required U.S. History I and II classes.

"It's an extraordinary program," he said. He said teachers had received hundreds of letters from alumni, saying the European history class had inspired them to travel or study abroad.

He quoted one graduate as saying, "We are reminded that we are not only American citizens, but global citizens."

Binovkow added, "We have received letters from professors endorsing our current program." He and other teachers pointed out that the interdisciplinary approach to the class, working with the English department, also develops valuable writing skills for sophomores.

Teacher Jamie Lott-Jones said that the current sequence gives student an "amazing breadth" of history that gives students a competitive edge on their college applications.

"At least listen to all sides," she said. "We are the ones in the classroom with the students."

The early exposure to non-U.S. history has nurtured Watchung Hills student projects which resulted in such honors as twice receiving awards from the Anti-Defamation League, said teacher Jim Carden.

The class is the only college-level Advanced Placement course available for sophomores, giving students an introduction for handling more than one AP class as juniors or seniors, said teacher Michele Lettington.

She pointed out that some of the topics covered in the European history class, such as the Renaissance era, are required in the state curriculum and are not covered in the other classes.

Later in the meeting, Jewett said that the freshman class curriculum would have to be rewritten to include those topics required by the state curriculum.

School board members did not make a decision on Monday, although board members did discuss issues such as changing the curriculum piecemeal or leaving out European philosophers whose ideas were used in laying the foundation for the establishment of American government.

A few parents who said they were attending the meeting for other reasons asked that the board consider the teachers' input.

One mother said she had attended highly-rated Millburn High School, and, "Our history department blows them away."

"My kids come home loving history, and it's because of these teachers," she added.

Ed Wilke of the Stirling section of Long Hill Township, said all three of his children had taken European history as sophomores, and, "Not only did they learn history, but it helped their writing."

Jewett noted the European history class, now taken by about 90 percent of sophomores, will continued to be offered as an elective for sophomores alongside U.S. History I.